{"id":766308,"date":"2026-09-10T16:14:13","date_gmt":"2026-09-10T16:14:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/766308\/"},"modified":"2026-09-10T16:14:13","modified_gmt":"2026-09-10T16:14:13","slug":"i-was-on-the-loo-when-i-got-the-news-strictly-come-dancings-new-hosts-spill-their-scandalous-secrets-television","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/766308\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018I was on the loo when I got the news!\u2019 Strictly Come Dancing\u2019s new hosts spill their scandalous secrets | Television"},"content":{"rendered":"

Johannes Radebe, one of the three new presenters of Strictly Come Dancing<\/a>, can barely contain his glee. Asked where they were when they heard they\u2019d got the job, Radebe is quick to wind up his co-hosts. \u201cWe\u2019ll never forget that call,\u201d he grins. \u201cIt was a weekday afternoon and I was at home, preparing for that night\u2019s performance of [West End musical] Kinky Boots. But go on, tell the Guardian where you two were.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe all got the same message, asking us to jump on a Zoom,\u201d says Emma Willis. \u201cWe didn\u2019t know if it was good news or bad news.\u201d Josh\u00a0Widdicombe picks up the story: \u201cI thought, \u2018Surely they wouldn\u2019t tell me to my face if I hadn\u2019t got it? They\u2019d just text my agent or something.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Radebe prompts him: \u201cSo where did you take the Zoom call, Joshy?\u201d \u201cIn a graveyard in Birmingham,\u201d confesses Widdicombe. \u201cI was on tour, killing time walking around, and needed to go somewhere quiet. There\u2019s nowhere quieter than a cemetery. Just to be clear, I sat against a tree, not on a grave.\u201d<\/p>\n

Willis\u2019s whereabouts were equally awkward. \u201cI was at the hairdressers with my head in the sink. The BBC said: \u2018Is there anywhere private you can go?\u2019 I said: \u2018Well, either out on the street or in the toilet.\u2019 And they were like, \u2018Probably the toilet.\u2019 So I was sat on the loo with wet hair when I got the news. Not using it, I hasten to add. Seat down.\u201d A Birmingham graveyard and a salon toilet. Who says showbiz is all\u00a0glitz, glamour and glitterballs?<\/p>\n

\u2018It\u2019s a baptism of fire\u2019\u2026 Radebe, Willis and Widdicombe in all new Strictly Come Dancing. Photograph: Guy Levy\/BBC\/PA<\/p>\n

When long-serving duo Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman hung up their ballroom shoes<\/a> last Christmas, it sparked frenzied conjecture about who would be next to helm the BBC blockbuster. You would\u2019ve got long odds on the combo of reality TV stalwart Willis, standup comic Widdicombe and South Africa-born professional dancer Radebe.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were all in shock but had to keep it secret for another fortnight,\u201d says Willis. \u201cThe only people we could talk to about it were each other, so we immediately set up a WhatsApp group.\u201d It\u2019s called \u201cOMG\u201d, named that fateful afternoon and unchanged since. \u201cYou should never change group chat names,\u201d says Widdicombe. \u201cThey\u2019re historic monuments.\u201d<\/p>\n

The big decision came after cloak-and-dagger auditions and secret screen tests. \u201cIt was a long old process,\u201d says Willis. \u201cI felt like a kid waiting for Christmas. It went on forever.\u201d \u201cWe all had separate meetings, then a week of chemistry tests,\u201d says Widdicombe. \u201cYou had no idea where you were going or who you\u2019d be auditioning with. You just had to get in a car, then be\u00a0smuggled in to avoid any lurking\u00a0paparazzi.\u201d<\/p>\n

The BBC even concocted a fake show to throw people off the scent. \u201cIt was called The Great Garden Glow Up,\u201d says Widdicombe. \u201cA producer told me \u2018We wanted a show that feasibly all the auditionees would host.\u2019 I was like, \u2018I wouldn\u2019t fucking host that, mate!\u2019 There\u2019s no way me and Jojo are fronting The Great Garden Glow Up! Although I could imagine Emma being good. With Tom Allen, maybe.\u201d Willis laughs: \u201cYou wouldn\u2019t say that if you saw the state of my garden.\u201d<\/p>\n

Auditions were set up as a rough approximation of Elstree Studios. \u201cIt was like a homemade Blue Peter version of Strictly,\u201d says Willis. \u201cThere was a wallpapering table with judges behind it. On my day, it was Anton, Motsi and a couple of stand-ins.\u201d \u201cShout-out to producer Joe\u201d says Widdicombe. \u201cHe did the best Craig impression I\u2019ve ever seen.\u201d \u201cMy first chemistry test was actually with Jojo,\u201d says Willis. \u201cWe must\u2019ve done something right.\u201d<\/p>\n

The pair once nearly graced the ballroom in a whole different capacity. \u201cI\u2019d wanted to be a contestant for years and almost was,\u201d says Willis. \u201cA few years ago, I did a dance trial which happened to be with Jojo. We boogied together. It didn\u2019t come to fruition but we kept in touch. When he walked into the screen test that day, I was like, \u2018Yes!\u2019\u201d \u201cThey saw Emma with Jojo and thought, \u2018That\u2019s two-thirds of the chemistry we need!\u2019\u201d jokes Widdicombe.<\/p>\n

Three is the magic number \u2026 Radebe, Willis and Widdicombe. Photograph: David Levene\/The Guardian<\/p>\n

Talking of which, why three hosts instead of the traditional two? As Willis recalls: \u201cWhen we were called back in, the producers said, \u2018This is a bit of a curveball but having watched all the screen tests, we want to try a trio.\u2019 They\u2019d never considered it before. The first time we tested together, they only had scripts for duos.\u201d<\/p>\n

By this stage, all three badly wanted the job. As Radebe puts it: \u201cWhen we left that last chemistry test, I went home, summoned all my ancestors, got down on my knees and prayed. I desperately wanted to do it with these two. But all was not lost because if it was a no, I could come back as a dancer. It\u2019s tough walking away from that but don\u2019t worry, I\u2019ll definitely find ways of dancing. I still need to be in my Cuban heels. I\u00a0negotiated that in my contract!\u201d They extol the virtues of being a trio, rather than the widely expected duo. \u201cIt feels like we\u2019re a gang,\u201d says Widdicombe. \u201cThere\u2019s no ego. We\u2019re all in this together. It also means we\u2019re not like-for-like replacements for Claudia and Tess. It\u2019s a new way of presenting the show and easier to make it our own.\u201d<\/p>\n

Press reports say the trio blew bosses away with their chemistry. Willis bats this off: \u201cI keep hearing that and I\u2019m like, \u2018Settle down, we have to do this on telly as well.\u2019 Our chemistry might be off the charts now but we\u2019ll be shitting our pants for that first live show. I\u00a0hear the theme music in my\u00a0sleep\u00a0and wake up sweating.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pundits assumed that Willis would be anchoring proceedings on the ballroom floor, like Daly did, with Widdicombe occupying Winkleman\u2019s berth on the balcony and Radebe in a roving reporter role. \u201cI understand that speculation but it\u2019s wide of the mark,\u201d says Willis. \u201cThere\u2019s no roving reporter, no fixed positions. A three rather than a two is a nice point of difference but the core of the show is the same as ever. It\u2019s about the contestants, the dancing and fantastic multi-generational fun.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m actually replacing Dave Arch as the leader of the band,\u201d says\u00a0Widdicombe. \u201cThat\u2019s an exclusive. No, people just need to\u00a0wait and see.\u201d<\/p>\n

As the first Black presenter of the main show, it\u2019s another milestone for serial trailblazer Radebe. \u201cAll my life, I\u2019ve been first in everything that I did,\u201d he says. \u201cIt\u2019s the perfect way to celebrate becoming a British citizen this year.\u201d Widdicombe is proud to be part of such a progressive programme. \u201cStrictly is a force for good,\u201d he says. \u201cWhether it\u2019s disability or same-sex couples, it\u2019s brilliant to have such an inclusive show at the centre of Britain\u2019s entertainment industry.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Dance floor it \u2026\u00a0Radebe, Willis and Widdicombe. Photograph: Guy Levy\/BBC\/PA<\/p>\n

The trio know all eyes will be on them and are braced for the scrutiny. \u201cWe\u2019re all coming to this as\u00a0Strictly fans ourselves,\u201d says Willis. \u201cWe\u2019re there to enjoy it alongside the viewers, rather than change anything. There\u2019s no new set. It will still look and feel like Strictly. If any TV show is an institution, it\u2019s this one. We just want to keep the ball in the air and not let down something so beloved by the nation.\u201d \u201cI squeal every time you say that,\u201d giggles Radebe.<\/p>\n

Willis and Widdicombe truly are superfans. Asking about their all-time favourite contestants provokes an in-depth debate. \u201cI loved Abbey Clancy in 2013,\u201d says Willis. \u201cAnd Rose Ayling-Ellis was sensational five years ago.\u201d Widdicombe chips in: \u201cAlthough Johannes and John Whaite were terrific that year as well.\u201d \u201cThank you, darling,\u201d beams Radebe.<\/p>\n

Widdicombe\u2019s love of the show was prompted by parenthood. \u201cI used to be out gigging every weekend but since we had our first daughter in 2017, it\u2019s been our family ritual on a Saturday night. I adored Bill Bailey, Chris McCausland and Hamza Yassin. On the flipside of the coin, I found Tony Adams incredibly inspiring.\u201d \u201cYou just liked his sparkly pants,\u201d teases Willis.<\/p>\n

Widdicombe may be a Strictly aficionado, but work commitments prevented him from watching last year\u2019s series. \u201cI was on tour, so I followed it via your Guardian liveblogs,\u201d he says. \u201cI\u2019ve got to ask, will you still be doing Frockwatch? Comparing what the three of us are wearing each week? Please say yes. Jojo\u2019s suddenly got something to play for.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

When we meet, they\u2019re fresh from pre-recording a supersize group dance to open the series \u2013 with the new hosts front and centre. \u201cYou\u2019re in for a treat,\u201d says Radebe. \u201cJosh has already been on the dancefloor [he performed a Charleston in the 2024 Christmas special while dressed as a penguin] but Emma had her first taste of what the celebs go through, especially the nerves.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a baptism of fire,\u201d says Willis. \u201cWe were terrified but, within 10 minutes, we were having the time of our lives. It looked like the end of Grease, where everyone comes together for a dance routine. I\u2019m living my childhood dreams.\u201d \u201cI loved how seriously you took it,\u201d says Radebe. \u201cEmma sent me a video last week of her practising in\u00a0her backyard.\u201d<\/p>\n

Did Widdicombe\u2019s penguin pedigree stand him in good stead? \u201cJojo seems to find that question amusing, for some strange reason,\u201d deadpans Widdicombe. \u201cThey\u2019re very different dance disciplines. I had to turn off my Charleston brain and turn on \u2026 whichever dance we were doing.\u201d All three dissolve into laughter.<\/p>\n

Following that razzle-dazzle group number, this year\u2019s pairing-up process will take a new form. \u201cCelebs and pros are coupling up live on the floor with more dance than ever,\u201d says Widdicombe. \u201cIt\u2019ll make a thrilling start to the series.\u201d \u201cIt\u2019s roulette meets the Instant Dance Challenge,\u201d says Radebe. \u201cI\u2019m jealous I won\u2019t be part of it.\u201d In another departure from the previous era, expect these hosts to don fancy dress for theme weeks. \u201cTry and stop us!\u201d chorus Willis and Widdicombe. \u201cI\u2019ll be in heaven,\u201d says Radebe.<\/p>\n

They\u2019re due back in the ballroom, so it\u2019s time for one last question. How will the new-look line-up gauge their success? \u201cI suppose if we\u2019re asked back next year,\u201d says Willis. \u201cGetting a second series is always a good measure.\u201d \u201cI won\u2019t consider this a success until I win Frockwatch,\u201d says Widdicombe. \u201cIt\u2019ll be the biggest upset in TV history!\u201d<\/p>\n

Strictly Come Dancing returns to BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Saturday 19 September.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Johannes Radebe, one of the three new presenters of Strictly Come Dancing, can barely contain his glee. Asked…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":766309,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[96,59,56,54,55],"class_list":["post-766308","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-entertainment","tag-entertainment","tag-gb","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/766308","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=766308"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/766308\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/766309"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=766308"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=766308"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=766308"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}