Emma Willis Says She’s Ready for ‘Negative’ Reaction as She Joins Strictly Come Dancing

Emma Willis is heading into one of British television’s most high-profile presenting roles with her eyes wide open—and she already knows that not everyone will welcome the change.

As Strictly Come Dancing prepares to return to BBC screens with a new presenting lineup, Willis has acknowledged that comparisons and criticism are inevitable. Her approach, however, is straightforward: she plans to focus on the show rather than the noise surrounding it.

The presenter joins Josh Widdicombe and professional dancer Johannes Radebe as the new hosting trio, following the departures of long-standing presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.

Emma Willis expects comparisons with Tess and Claudia

Willis is no stranger to live television or shows that attract intense public attention. Her previous presenting credits include Big Brother, The Voice UK and Love Is Blind, giving her plenty of experience with the pressures that come with major entertainment programmes.

Speaking about the reaction to the new Strictly lineup, Willis said she was prepared for both positive and negative opinions.

“I’m ready for the comparisons. I am ready for the negative things, opinions that can come with these things,” she said.

Rather than allowing criticism to become a distraction, Willis explained that she deliberately avoids engaging with much of the online commentary.

“Those things I don’t engage with or read,” she added, while acknowledging that there would also be plenty of positive reactions.

For Willis, the focus is on the programme itself and the entertainment it can provide.

‘We’re working on an entertainment show about dancing’

The presenter also appeared keen to keep expectations grounded. Rather than treating the new hosts as replacements who must replicate the personalities of their predecessors, she sees the trio as a team with its own identity.

“We aren’t reinventing the wheel. We’re not rocket scientists. We’re working on an entertainment show about dancing that is meant to bring joy to everybody watching it,” Willis said.

She hopes the new presenters can contribute to that atmosphere without becoming overly concerned about the comparisons surrounding them.

“Hopefully we can be a small part of that joy and have a really lovely time doing it,” she added.

How the new Strictly trio came together

The unusual casting process brought Willis, Widdicombe and Radebe together almost by accident.

The BBC reportedly went to considerable lengths to keep the auditions confidential, with prospective presenters being transported to a secret location. According to Widdicombe, even the drivers were allegedly told they were taking people to auditions for a fictional programme called The Great Garden Glow Up.

The three presenters initially auditioned in pairs before Willis was brought into the process.

Widdicombe recalled being in a callback room when Radebe entered. Both apparently wondered whether they were competing against each other for the position.

The situation changed when Willis joined them and the BBC asked whether the three could work together as a presenting team.

Despite initially knowing little about each other, the combination apparently worked well enough to secure them the job.

The hosts want to operate as a team

The trio has also made it clear that they do not want their responsibilities to be divided into rigid versions of the roles previously occupied by Daly and Winkleman.

Widdicombe said they wanted the new arrangement to feel like a team rather than three people attempting to replicate established presenting positions.

The hosts have reportedly experimented with different parts of the show during auditions, with the exact division of duties still being worked out before the launch.

That flexible approach could help the new lineup establish its own rhythm rather than inviting constant comparisons with the previous presenters.

Turning 50 has changed Emma Willis’ outlook

For Willis, the new role comes at an important point in her life. The presenter is turning 50 this year and says reaching that milestone has made her more confident about her career and the choices she makes.

“I’m more sure of myself. I know what I want to do,” she said.

She also explained that she no longer wants to apologise for her achievements or allow concerns about age to dictate what opportunities she accepts.

“I’m not going to apologise for myself and my successes, like I’ve done for the last 25 years,” Willis said.

She added that opportunities in television should be embraced while they are available, making it clear that she has no intention of slowing down simply because she is entering a new decade.

Willis never seriously considered turning Strictly down

Despite acknowledging the scale of the role, Willis said she did not hesitate when the opportunity arrived.

She admitted there was understandable nervousness about taking on such a prominent position, particularly given the size and history of Strictly Come Dancing. However, she also viewed the programme’s long-running live television format as a major attraction.

“As a presenter, there are few shows on for that length of time that are live television, and they’re few and far between now,” she said.

For Willis, that made the role difficult to pass up.

Johannes Radebe had his own moment of doubt

Radebe, meanwhile, admitted that he initially questioned whether he was ready to take on the presenting role.

He recalled having to ask himself, “What? Who do you think you are?” before speaking to his agent.

His agent’s advice was simple: “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”

Radebe said the opportunity was particularly meaningful because Strictly is connected to his greatest professional passion—dance.

His exchange with Widdicombe also revealed the playful chemistry developing between the new hosts. Widdicombe joked that Radebe’s enthusiasm for dance explained why he had supposedly turned down Match of the Day.

Widdicombe is also preparing to make a few changes of his own for the new role, joking that he plans to experiment with fake tan.

When does the new Strictly Come Dancing begin?

The revamped Strictly Come Dancing presenting team is set to make its debut when the show returns to BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Saturday, September 19, at 7:25pm.

With Willis, Widdicombe and Radebe taking over the presenting duties, the first episode will inevitably attract comparisons with the show’s previous era.

Willis, however, appears ready for that scrutiny. Her strategy is not to fight every criticism but to concentrate on helping deliver what Strictly has traditionally aimed to provide: live entertainment, dancing and a reason for audiences to enjoy their Saturday night.