Nocturnal 
Strictly Come Dancing has a new hosting trio, and after just one live show, one of them is already being singled out as “a problem” the programme needs to sort out.
That’s the verdict from The Independent’s review of the first live episode of the 2026 series, which handed the new format three stars out of five. The paper praised Johannes Radebe’s debut but said comedian Josh Widdicombe “needs to tone down his comedic impulses if he wants this to work” alongside co-host Emma Willis.
It’s the biggest shake-up the BBC ratings juggernaut has seen in years, following the departures of long-serving hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. In their place: Radebe, a former Strictly professional, taking on debrief duties in what used to be Winkleman’s “Clauditorium”; and Willis and Widdicombe sharing hosting duties down on the ballroom floor.
An awkward night on the dance floor
Widdicombe, best known for The Last Leg, had already admitted to nerves ahead of the show, telling Digital Spy the experience was “terrifying” and asking “what could possibly go wrong?” As it turned out, quite a bit did.
The Sun reported an awkward moment when Widdicombe stepped in front of Willis to reach across and joke about contestant Will Best’s exposed chest following a dance, only for Best to seemingly not notice him. Widdicombe was left standing with his hands out as Willis carried on with the show regardless.
There was also a testier exchange with the judges. According to Radio Times, after judge Motsi Mabuse agreed with a critique from Craig Revel Horwood, Widdicombe attempted to move things along by handing over to head judge Shirley Ballas, prompting Mabuse to ask him: “Are we going to be friends or enemies? You choose now!” Fans online reportedly enjoyed the banter, with one writing that “Motsi ate him up”.
Fans split on three hosts
It isn’t just Widdicombe under scrutiny. The Mirror reported that viewers were divided over the decision to have three presenters at all, with some branding the new format “clunky” and arguing that “three hosts is just not working”. Others felt the issue was less about numbers and more about where each host had been positioned, while some viewers said they were simply getting used to the new set-up.
By contrast, Radebe appears to have had a smoother start. The Sun and Radio Times both noted the 39-year-old became emotional within moments of the first live show, telling the professional dancers “I have missed you all!” as Widdicombe and Willis jokingly consoled him. The Independent’s review credited Radebe with softening the judges’ harsher critiques and said he “felt like a perfect Winkleman replacement,” despite some early timing issues with his links.
Widdicombe, for his part, has been open about how much the job means to him. In a statement issued when the trio were announced, he said dancing the Charleston dressed as a penguin for a 2024 Christmas special “remains my career high point,” adding he was “giddy with excitement” to take on “the biggest shoes in television” alongside Willis and Radebe.
Where things stand now
One live show in, the new-look Strictly is clearly still finding its rhythm. Radebe has largely been embraced by fans and critics alike, while Willis has been described as the steady, professional anchor of the trio. Widdicombe remains the biggest question mark, with reviewers and viewers alike suggesting he’ll need to adjust his comic timing if the three-host experiment is going to work long-term. The BBC has made no comment on the criticism, and Strictly Come Dancing continues on Saturdays at 6.15pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
