Claudia Winkleman praises new Strictly host Emma Willis with gushing comment following launch show
Claudia's warm reaction made her support for the new presenter unmistakableClaudia Winkleman has publicly backed Emma Willis following her Strictly Come Dancing presenting debut, delivering a punchy one-word verdict.
She called Emma a “knockout” in an Instagram comment and added four heart emojis. The endorsement arrived after Saturday’s 2026 launch show.
Emma had posted photos of her sparkling pale pink dress and the first weekend backstage. Her caption began: “Week one… I guess it’s officially happening then.”
She said she was ready for glitter to take over before inviting Strictly to begin. Claudia’s warm reaction made her support for the new presenter unmistakable.
Claudia Winkleman backs Emma Willis after debut
Claudia also left supportive heart emojis on a second post showing Emma’s opening weekend. That gallery included table reads, a welcome sign, her dressing-room door and further backstage moments.
Other Strictly figures and TV names joined the praise beneath Emma’s updates. Giovanna Fletcher praised Emma’s joy and warmth, while Scarlett Moffatt celebrated the whole team.
Dianne Buswell also called all three presenters brilliant, with Nancy Xu adding heart emojis. Judge Craig Revel Horwood offered an equally concise assessment during the programme: “Fabulous.”
Strictly viewers split over new presenting trio
Not every response to the revamped presenting team was glowing. Some online commenters praised Emma while questioning Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe.
One viewer said Emma did a strong job but wanted to fast-forward Josh. Another felt Johannes was a better dancer than presenter and remained unsure about Josh.
A third wanted Emma to stay, then favoured Josh over Johannes after the launch. Across those particular comments, Emma attracted the warmest feedback.
However, they represented individual social media views rather than a complete audience verdict.
Read more: Strictly pro Nikita Kuzmin’s ‘tears’ over Dani Dyer partnership
Emma Willis starts Strictly’s new era
Emma, Johannes and Josh were announced as presenters in May, following months of anticipation. Their arrival created the first three-host line-up in Strictly’s history.
They took over after Claudia and Tess Daly announced their departure in October 2025. The pair said they had loved hosting together and felt the time was right.
Claudia had been main presenter since 2014, after earlier hosting Strictly spin-off It Takes Two. Tess had presented the programme for 21 years, initially alongside Sir Bruce Forsyth.
The new trio therefore inherited one of British television’s most familiar presenting partnerships.
Emma brought experience from The Voice UK, Big Brother and Celebrity Big Brother. Johannes already knew the ballroom as a Strictly professional dancer.
Josh arrived with presenting experience from The Last Leg and had competed in the 2024 Christmas special.
Ahead of the launch, Emma acknowledged she expected comparisons and some negative opinions. She said she would not engage with those comments, instead focusing on the entertainment show’s joyful purpose.
Strictly Come Dancing continues at 6.15pm on BBC One on Saturday September 26, 2026.
This article was produced with the assistance of AI technology to synthesise source reporting and structured data. It has been reviewed, edited, and fact-checked by our human editorial team before publication.
