Strictly 2025 : Post Series Debrief And Christmas Special

[EineReiseDurchDieZeit]

In case anyone wants to keep chatting

Definitely.
Another example is Michael Portillo.

Johannes has been appearing live in the west end in Kinky boots which must have taught him a lot about handling mishaps in front of a live audience. He knows the Strictly studio protocols inside out from his time as a dancer. He’s a lovely softly spoken guy and as far as I can see loved by everyone on the show. Claudia’s role is hardly Question time - he could chat to pro and celeb and bring out the best in them.

@Choux But it doesn’t make sense because he’s already been announced as a returning pro

If it is Emma and johannes together that covers equality in gender, ethnicity and sexuality. Very BBC!

And they aren’t allowed to change their mind?

Yes of course but it seems unlikely

Here’s the announcement. They say there will be further announcements later about new pros and new hosts. They couldn’t leave Johannes off the list of returning dancers or it would create a ton of speculation. But he could easily still be announced as a host later on. Note that he is slap bang in the middle of the pro dancer photos. By design?

https://www.bbc.com/mediacentre/2026/strictly-2026-pro-dancers-judges-theme-weeks-confirmed

He could be an unpartnered pro just in the pre filmed group numbers like Gorka was last year.

Oh dear, if that's the case not a lot of laugh out loud Saturday entertainment.

I hope they announce soon, it’s become frustrating

Will they use the One Show I wonder?

Claudia’s role is a LOT harder than she made it look. They need a really safe pair of hands for that one.
Johannes is naturally warm and likeable, and obviously knows the dancers, and can empathise with them and the slebs. But I'm not sure about his capacity for comedy timing or working with the camera. And doing it all live, with people shouting in your ear, split-second timings, a million moving parts, overexcited/overemotional slebs and dancers milling about… I'm not sure he's got the chops for that.
That's why I also don't think they'll give it to La Voix/Chris. Although I do imagine there's an element within the Beeb team who would love to.

This was my first thought too. I like him, but as others have said it would be nice to have at least one presenter who is naturally witty.

I saw Johannes present an award a few months ago ...it was some TV awards thing .
He fluffed his auto -cue and seemed really nervous.

If the contests do a good performance and are on a real high buzz going upstairs ..I feel he would just put a bit of a damper on it all.

Claudia use to get so excited for them .

I was surprised at his age though !

I thought he was in his prime ....a youngster ..
But he is 39 !

He doesn't look it at all

I’m thinking they equally go with someone who would appeal to a younger but family friendly still audience almost in the vein of Joe Sugg. I remember when he was a contestant it was like what a YouTuber who & what are they?! lol showing my age. But he opened doors to all kinds of celebrities appearing. So I’m thinking almost someone more youf although he’s hardly that demographic any more but YKWIM!

I’ll probably start the first Strictly 2026 thread when we’ve got the hosts confirmed because after that it’ll be contestant announcements. Presumably Dani Dyer will get a second chance

I'm sure I saw something that said they would announce once Eurovision was over so hopefully some news next week. I'm not sure if many of the the names supposedly still in the running would have the ability to do justice to the Claudia roll. Comforting celebs that have had a bad dance/ roasting from the judges, celebrating with those who've had a great dance, handling the unexpected throw back to when something has gone wrong (they threw back to Claudia when there were set issues like LVs pink pony malfunction). So I'm wondering if there is going to be a bit of change in roles to be revealed.

Absolutely the comedy and ad-lib will be lost. Claudia is so good at that. Maybe they need to just change it up completely and move away from this.
I see someone like Tom Allen (Bake Off After Party) in this role. He is able to interact, ad-lib and make jokes off the cuff.

Maybe, they will move away from the ‘fun’, the clauditorium had become quite raucous of late and bemore of a ‘dance technique’ feedback.

Is he good at live TV? (I've never seen him presenting).

It's an interesting idea, to change up the Clauditorium and make it more 'educational', almost like an ITT segment from when that was good.
But they seem hell-bent on trying to be 'fun' and noisier and noisier, so, unless there's a new team or they've done a 180 in their thinking, I'm not sure that's likely.

I think the new presenters need to have the chance to made it their own and not mimic tess and Claudia because they will never live up to them! I do think there will be some format changes this year!

I agree with this. Want to know now!

La Voix has been announced as the spokesperson for Eurovision !
The person who gives the ' douze points ' !
That's proper live tv !!

Wow!

and Rylan and Angela Scanlon hosted both semi finals this week. Perhaps Eurovision 2026 is actually a Strictly audition.

La Voix is still my favourite for Strictly.

That would end my viewing!

The LV show, hated the way LV took over everything. Not great presenting when you push yourself forward over the main people on the show.

ETA ( I wouldn’t watch with Rylan presenting either).