Former Strictly judges Arlene Phillips and Darcey Bussell give verdicts on new hosting trio

This year's season of Strictly Come Dancing has seen perhaps the biggest change in the show's history, with three new hosts in the form of Emma Willis, Johannes Radebe and Josh Widdicombe taking over from Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.

Now, two iconic figures from the show's past, former judges Arlene Phillips and Darcey Bussell, have weighed in on how they are doing so far, and have given mixed verdicts at this point.

Speaking exclusively with Radio Times at the Sky Arts Awards 2026, Phillips said when asked about the trio: "I love the new hosts. Can I be desperately honest? I’m still not sure because… I don't know, there's something that feels like it holds the boys back. And Emma is a delight. She, not only just looks gorgeous, but everything she does is impeccable.

"And I think that’s what the boys need to be - their version of Emma. Outspoken, and there's something about when you chat with a smile, something about when you actually say something with a warmth. That's all it needs, and it'll be fabulous."

Meanwhile, Bussell said of the new season: "I haven't been able to watch it fully. I watch clips of it all the time, and mainly I'm really only interested in the dance. So, seeing what they're choreographing and everything, which is always incredible, thank goodness.

"I think the change in presenting, it's always like a teething problem isn't it? It's a natural part of the process. You have to teeth in and everybody should just let go a bit and relax. Give them a chance."

Phillips was a judge on the show between 2004 and 2008, while Bussell's tenure lasted between 2012 and 2018.

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Speaking earlier this month, Gareth Davies, a former senior TV producer at the BBC who helped develop and launch Strictly when it first premiered, gave a similar verdict regarding the new hosts, calling Willis a "great choice".

Davies added: "Johannes upstairs I think hasn't yet come into his own. As producers, it's our job to help talent find their voice, develop their style and own their content. And I feel like he's giving us a slightly watered down version of what Claudia used to do, rather than actually leaning into perhaps his expertise as a dancer and finding his own way with that. It all feels very quiet upstairs."

He continued: "Josh downstairs with Emma, it feels like there's not a lot of room for two hosts with the four judges and the dancing duo next to them. I feel like it's a hard job for [Josh] to have. He's been put there like the everyman, the funny man, but actually there's not a lot of room for him to be funny there.

"So I think the producers really need to now solidify the role of Johannes, the role of Josh and also visually, I think they need to look more like a trio in how they're dressed. They need to pull their look together."

Strictly Come Dancing continues at 6:15pm on Saturday 17 October on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

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