Claudia Winkleman shares her verdict on new Strictly presenter Emma Willis after launch episode

Claudia Winkleman has offered a warm one-word endorsement of Emma Willis's debut on Strictly Come Dancing, the BBC ballroom contest she recently exited after a 15-year stint.

The revamped series began over the weekend with a pre-recorded episode, in which new hosting trio Willis, Johannes Radebe and Josh Widdicombe revealed this year's celebrity pairings.

Ahead of broadcast, Willis shared her outfit on Instagram, writing: "Week one… I guess it's officially happening then. Dress on, game face ready and fully prepared for the glitter to take over… Strictly, let's be having you."

The following day, Winkleman replied with a single word, "knockout", alongside four heart emojis, in a public show of support for her successor.

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Willis, Radebe and Widdicombe form the first three-host line-up in the show's history, a change the BBC has framed as a major format shift.

Willis is best known for her work on The Voice UK and Love is Blind, while she formerly presented Big Brother and Celebrity Big Brother during its days on Channel 5.

Meanwhile, Radebe had previously served as a professional competitor on the show, meaning he is well-acquainted with the ups and downs of ballroom life.

Arguably, the most surprising choice was Widdicombe, a stand-up comic, actor and presenter, best known in recent years for Channel 4's hit topical talk show The Last Leg.

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The trio would understandably be feeling some pressure from inheriting the BBC's flagship autumn/winter fixture from a pairing as successful as Winkleman and Tess Daly.

Strictly 2026 contestant and Emmerdale star Lawrence Robb told the new hosts he could "empathise" with their situation, as he too had "large shoes to fill" after the prior success of fellow soap stars Kelvin Fletcher and Lewis Cope.

Daly and Winkleman quit the series in October 2025, stating: "We have loved working as a duo and hosting Strictly has been an absolute dream. We were always going to leave together and now feels like the right time."

Daly began presenting the show 21 years ago alongside the late Sir Bruce Forsyth, while Winkleman joined her in 2014, having hosted Strictly's sister show It Takes Two since 2004.

Winkleman now fronts The Traitors and its celebrity spin-off. Her self-titled chat show launched earlier this year, but unfortunately fizzled out after its first season.

Strictly Come Dancing is available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

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Authors

David Craig is the Senior Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering the latest and greatest scripted drama and comedy across television and streaming. Previously, he worked at Starburst Magazine, presented The Winter King Podcast for ITVX and studied Journalism at the University of Sheffield.