Strictly 2026 : It’s Emma, Josh and JoJo

[EineReiseDurchDieZeit]

First thread of the year! Let us reconvene here for further discussions

I thought that they had both been "released from their contracts" aka sacked

Interesting I must’ve missed that

Jojo for ITT then?!

Someone on another forum said that ITT is going digital or something. I don’t really know what that entails.

I imagine that means iPlayer only not every night on BBC2

Emma and rylan would have been great together - they have done stuff before and bounce off each other. I wonder if he was offered it and turned it down

Not sure how I feel.
I find Emma Willis abit meh but I felt the same about Tess and it still worked.
i like Josh on his podcast but not sure he can carry strictly.
johannes I love to watch dancing it would be a shame if he didn’t get a partner

I did think when it became clear it was Emma, that it was going to be Rylan

Not according to his post on instagram. He says he didn’t get it. And accompanies it with a hilarious X factor throwback of him sobbing

Sarah Cox said today that she went for it and didn’t get it.

Urgh. I’m very underwhelmed.

I find it very boring now - the participants are seldom recognisable celebrities. I gave up on the last season after a couple of weeks. On that basis I doubt whether new presenters will make a difference.

I like Josh but I’m not really sure he can bring the pizzazz for Strictly. Hopefully wardrobe will get him in some good outfits because I did used to like seeing what Tess and Claudia wore each week.

It sounds like they did a lot of screen testing to see who worked best together, so hopefully this combo will be ok. I am unconvinced, but we'll see. I wanted Zoe Ball.

I did too @BelleEpoque27 I thought she was the obvious choice

I wanted Zoe on the dance floor and whatshisface LaVoix giving it snark with heart upstairs.

Emma will be fine, Jojo cries too much (and would be better off dancing) and Josh just feels out of place.

I read somewhere else today that he will be upstairs, Emma on the floor and Jojo as a roving reporter (like Gethin and Thatcher Joe have both done before).

Thanks for the new thread @EineReiseDurchDieZeit

I’m guessing that Emma will have to step back from her Radio 2 show now. I know Claudia used to combine hers with Strictky, but she did the 10am-1pm slot (which Romesh does now), whereas Emma is doing 1pm-3pm which would surely clash with run through/dress rehearsals for Saturday night?

I said on the other thread that I’m a big Josh fan (love Parenting Hell), he’s been very open and honest about his struggles with his mental health and just comes across as very genuine. The only thing about it all that surprised me is that he’s taken this on after moving out of London - to Exeter! I know he commutes for Last Leg, but this will be a lot more work!

Emma, Zoe any Rylan would have been better.

I don't dislike Johannes but I can't see how Josh will fit.

I’m glad it’s not Rylan. His voice goes from loud to inaudible. He's clearly hardworking and determined and done well for himself but I’m glad it’s not him.

I think Josh will be great. Cheerful.

Not sure why they needed a third person. Reminds me of my old work who had to hire two people to replace me, when I was on my mat leave.

@chickenss I suspect we will hear that JoJo is the new host of whatever ITT is becoming not a 3rd wheel on a Saturday

No way could JoJo could carry ITT by himself

I'm not a fan of Josh in general, but I don't understand all the social media comments saying that he has no dancing knowledge. It's weird.
Tess and Claudia didn't. And I assume Emma doesn't.

And if all these big names wanted to host it, but got turned down, then clearly Emma and Josh worked brilliantly together

I would think that Josh is the sort of person that is easy to get on with, doesn’t translate to good viewing experience necessarily but I will give him a chance. Due to all the past scandals at the BBC, their top priority would have been to avoid employing anyone that is a sex pest or potential predator.

I agree they will have been thorough about background checks!

I love both of Josh’s podcasts. I’m looking forward to him talking about this on the PH pod (content!). I think the fact it’s time limited Sept - Christmas is part of the appeal.

I would have liked to see Rob Rinder present SCD. He's highly intelligent, sufficiently snappy, understands "art" in its broadest sense and was a decent dancer.
He wouldn't take any shit from the judges ( Shirley) either.