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Join today<\/a><\/p>\n \n Already a member? Your support helps us to tell the story<\/p>\n From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.<\/p>\n At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.<\/p>\n The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.<\/p>\n Your support makes all the difference.Read more<\/p>\n Richard Osman<\/a> has explained why the new iteration of Strictly Come Dancing<\/a> is currently not working \u2013 and how he would fix it.<\/p>\n On Saturday (26 September), the first live show of the series <\/a>aired, showcasing the debut of new hosting trio Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe<\/a> and Johannes Radebe<\/a>. Willis rose to the challenge with success, while Widdicombe and Radebe are yet to find their groove.<\/p>\n Former BBC host Osman has shared his view on the issue, stating: \u201cI absolutely see why they\u2019ve gone with three people<\/a> \u2013 it makes a lot of sense to do that\u201d, but acknowledged there were teething issues, including how the new hosts have been put to work. <\/p>\n In the episode, Willis and Widdicombe were paired by the main stage, near the judges, and Radebe led the post-performance interviews with the contestants in the segment that was fronted for years by Claudia Winkleman<\/a>.<\/p>\n According to Osman, Radebe \u2013 a professional dancer who used to be partnered with contestants \u2013 isn\u2019t working in this role because he has to emulate precisely what Winkleman made her own, which doesn\u2019t play to his strengths.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Johannes thing is interesting because at the moment he\u2019s doing exactly what Claudia did, which is you throw to Johannes, the producers have given him two talking points: \u2018Here\u2019s the thing from the VT, here\u2019s what the judges said \u2013\u00a0just raise those things with the celebrity and their partner,\u2019\u201d Osman said on The Rest is Entertainment<\/a> podcast.<\/p>\n \u201cThe reason it became that is because that\u2019s the thing Claudia is very good at. \u2018Give me a few bits of vanilla content\u2019 \u2013 Claudia is very, very good at turning that into something. Now that\u2019s not what Johannes can do \u2013 it\u2019s not who he is. He\u2019s a trained dancer; he brings something else. So you have to work out what it is that Johannes does instead.\u201d<\/p>\n Osman said that, in its current form, it\u2019s simply \u201cjust two bits of vanilla information\u201d, with his podcast co-host Marina Hyde adding: \u201cIt feels very reverential \u2013 it doesn\u2019t diffuse the tension in the way Claudia did.\u201d<\/p>\n If Osman was a producer on the show, he suggested that he would put Widdicombe in the Radebe role, leaving Willis to present solo by the main stage \u2013 and have Radebe in a roving reporter position backstage, which would provide the show with \u201cextra content\u201d. <\/p>\n He said this would also fix the obstacle of having to write for Willis and Widdicombe as a double act, which he branded \u201cimpossible\u201d as \u201cone is a comic\u201d and \u201cone is not\u201d.<\/p>\n Another key change Osman would make is to trim the VTs \u2013 played before a contestant performs \u2013 by 30 seconds, something he said he\u2019s \u201calways thought\u201d.<\/p>\n However, Osman doesn\u2019t think that Strictly is going through a crisis, declaring: \u201cThe one thing I know for a fact the producers will really understand what they have to do.\u201d<\/p>\n
\n Log in<\/a>\n <\/p>\n![\"Josh](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/01M2X60B1ZY0X1RBKCH1XNKPDM.jpg\")
Josh Widdicombe, Emma Willis and Johannes Radebe are the new \u2018Strictly Come Dancing\u2019 hosts (PA)<\/p>\n![\"Johannes](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Screenshot-2026-09-29-at-14-02-12.png\")
Johannes Radebe is doing the role Claudia Winkleman used to do on ‘Strictly’ (BBC)<\/p>\n