Strictly Come Dancing launches new season with hosting and cast shake-up

The 2026 series of Strictly Come Dancing has launched with significant changes to its presenting and judging dynamics. A new hosting trio consisting of Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe, and Johannes Radebe has taken over following the departures of Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. While the new team has received praise for their chemistry and lack of ego, Widdicombe described the pressure of the first live show as “terrifying.”

On the dance floor, former footballer Shaun Wright-Phillips faced a difficult start. Performing a cha-cha-cha, he received a total of 15 points, including a low score of two from judge Craig Revel Horwood. This performance left him joint bottom of the leaderboard, leading some viewers to predict he could be the first contestant eliminated. It was also noted that Wright-Phillips is the adopted son of football legend Ian Wright.

Other highlights from the premiere include a strong performance by Bethany Antonia and Nancy Xu, which fans noted might break the show’s perceived “curse” regarding same-sex female pairings. Meanwhile, veteran broadcaster Angela Rippon expressed feeling “unsettled” by the sweeping structural changes to the long-running BBC program.