‘Just Not The Same!’ Strictly Fans Divided As Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe And Johannes Radebe Make Their Debuts
Strictly Come Dancing fans have delivered their first verdict on Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe after the trio officially took over as the show’s new presenters.
The 2026 series launched on Saturday night, September 19, marking the beginning of a very different era for the BBC competition following the departures of Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.
Emma, Josh and Johannes stepped into the presenting roles for the first time as this year’s celebrities and professional dancers returned to the ballroom.
The episode opened with a huge dance routine filmed outside the studio, bringing together the show’s professional dancers, judges and celebrity contestants.
Last year’s winner Karen Carney also appeared in the opening number, while Emma, Josh and Johannes joined in as they began their new Strictly journey.
Josh Admits New Role Is ‘Overwhelming’
After the opening routine, the new hosts headed into the studio and welcomed viewers to the latest series.
The trio spoke about taking over one of the BBC’s biggest entertainment programmes and the attention surrounding their new roles.
Josh admitted that becoming a Strictly presenter had been “overwhelming”, although all three appeared excited about the weeks ahead.
Emma, Josh and Johannes are expected to front the programme across the next 13 weeks as the celebrity contestants compete for the Glitterball Trophy.
Their arrival represents one of the biggest presenting changes in the show’s history.
Tess and Claudia had become closely associated with Strictly, meaning the new trio faced immediate comparisons as soon as the launch programme began.
Some Fans Admit They Miss Tess and Claudia
Viewers quickly took to X to share their thoughts, with the reaction proving mixed.
Some fans admitted they were struggling to adjust to the new line-up.
“Never thought I’d say this, but I miss Tess…” one viewer wrote.
Another was less convinced by the new presenting combination, saying: “This is honestly the most weirdest choice of hosts they could choose; I’m sorry…”
A third fan added: “This is just not the same! I miss Tess and Claudia.”
Others questioned the decision to have three presenters instead of two.
“Why do we need 3 presenters?” one viewer asked.
The comments showed that some longtime viewers were still adjusting to a major change in a programme known for its familiar format and personalities.
Emma Willis Receives Early Praise
However, plenty of viewers reacted positively to the new presenters.
One enthusiastic fan wrote: “I LOVE IT SM ALREADY.”
Emma in particular received praise for appearing comfortable in her new role.
“Emma Willis is honestly super impressing me,” one viewer posted.
They added that she felt like “the natural successor to Tess”.
Other viewers supported the decision to use all three presenters and urged audiences to give them time to develop their chemistry.
“Loving the 3 new presenters, let them get into their stride!” one fan wrote.
Another simply said: “I love these 3.”
Viewers Urged to Give New Trio Time
Some viewers acknowledged that replacing Tess and Claudia was always going to be a difficult adjustment.
One fan encouraged others not to judge the new line-up too quickly.
“Give them a chance on #Strictly; change is difficult, but it’s early days,” they wrote.
The comment reflected a wider feeling among supportive viewers that Emma, Josh and Johannes may need time to settle into their roles.
All three arrive with very different backgrounds.
Emma brings extensive television presenting experience, Josh is best known for comedy, while Johannes spent years as one of Strictly’s professional dancers before moving into the hosting role.
A New Strictly Era Begins
Their different styles were immediately apparent during the launch episode.
For some viewers, the change felt refreshing.
For others, the absence of Tess and Claudia remained difficult to ignore.
The response also highlighted the challenge facing any presenter stepping into such established roles.
After years of familiarity, viewers are now being asked to adjust to a completely new hosting dynamic at the same time as the latest group of celebrities begin their own journeys.
The launch show was only the trio’s first outing, meaning there is still plenty of time for Emma, Josh and Johannes to develop their rhythm together.
Early reaction may have been divided, but the 2026 series has certainly given viewers plenty to talk about from the very first night.
With 13 weeks of competition still ahead, the new hosts will now have the chance to prove whether their partnership can win over those viewers who are still missing the show’s previous presenting team.
