Matt Willis hits back at Strictly criticism as he insists wife Emma is 'perfect' for hosting job
Emma has been largely praised for her new roleMatt Willis has declared wife Emma Willis is “perfect” for Strictly Come Dancing after the new hosting trio faced criticism.
Speaking to The Telegraph, Matt said the BBC role had arrived as an unexpected opportunity for Emma.
His backing follows mixed reactions to Emma’s first Strictly live show alongside Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe.
Emma has largely won praise for her presenting, although some viewers questioned the revamped three-person format.
Matt’s interview took place two days before her first appearance in the ballroom.
“She’s really happy, really excited,” he said.
Matt Willis says Emma loves Strictly
According to Matt, Emma deeply wanted the job but felt nervous about admitting that ambition aloud.
He explained: “Strictly was a curveball. Taking the biggest job on TV was not on our bingo card for 2026, but I’m so proud of her. And if anyone can do it, it’s her. I’m stoked for her, she’s perfect for it, and loves the show so much.”
His comments offered clear support as Emma settled into one of British television’s biggest presenting jobs.
She fronts the programme with comedian Josh and professional dancer Johannes.
Josh joined Emma on the dancefloor, while Johannes handled interviews with contestants from the auditorium.
Emma Willis shares message after criticism
On Tuesday, Emma shared behind-the-scenes Strictly pictures on Instagram and included a message about public judgement.
The post read: “You’ll get judged either way, so may as well pick the fun option.”
The presenter did not explicitly name any critic or address specific complaints about the programme.
Her post also attracted supportive messages, including a heart emoji from Johannes.
Much of the sharper viewer criticism instead focused on Josh.
Some social media users questioned his place in the line-up and flagged two missed cues during the live programme.
Emma, meanwhile, escaped most of the criticism aimed at the new presenting arrangement.
Strictly Come Dancing ratings fall for live show
The first live show’s Strictly viewing figures also fell below the equivalent 2025 broadcast.
A reported 4.8 million watched, compared with 6.2 million for the first live show in 2025. The 2026 live episode also drew fewer viewers than September’s pre-recorded launch programme.
It marked the first time since 2019 that the first live show rated below the launch. The launch itself peaked at 5.8 million, slightly above the 5.6 million peak recorded in 2025. However, its average audience slipped from 5.4 million to 5.3 million year on year.
The figures leave the revamped team under scrutiny during its first series together. Matt’s verdict on Emma, however, remains emphatic.
Read more: New Strictly host Johannes Radebe reveals his tears during rehearsals: ‘I miss that’
Strictly continues tonight (Saturday, October 3) from 6.15pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
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.
