Strictly Come Dancing 2026: Anton Du Beke tells viewers 'don't moan' about changes as he defends BBC show
The new presenting line-up has faced fierce criticismStrictly Come Dancing judge Anton Du Beke has told viewers not to “moan” about the show’s big changes this year, insisting they “can’t turn back the tide”.
Emma Willis, Johannes Radebe and Josh Widdicombe took over hosting duties from Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman this series to mixed reactions, while several new professional dancers have also joined the line-up.
But the judge, 60, told The Times that viewers should embrace the new-look show rather than complain about it.
“My thing is you can’t turn back the tide. So just run with it and enjoy it. Make it fun. That’s the key. Don’t moan. I don’t like moaners,” Du Beke told the publication.
What has Anton Du Beke said about the new Strictly hosts?
Anton also insisted the show hasn’t changed “at all” with its new hosts, despite some viewers feeling the trio can’t live up to the legacy of their predecessors.
“Showbusiness people are used to change,” he explained. “It hasn’t changed anything about the show. The only thing you have is great excitement about new people coming in and joining the family.
“It sounds a bit twee, but it is that. All the hosts do is say ‘Hello, welcome to the show,’ and ‘Here’s who’s coming next.’ The bit we want is the dancing.”
Why did Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman leave Strictly?
Tess and Claudia left Strictly after the 2025 Christmas special. They announced their exit earlier that year, saying they had always planned to leave together when the time felt right.
Tess had hosted the show since 2004, first alongside Sir Bruce Forsyth until he stepped down in 2014, when Claudia joined her on the ballroom floor.
Replacing the pair was always going to be difficult. In May, the BBC announced Emma, Josh and Johannes as the new hosts, with Kate Phillips, the BBC’s chief content officer, saying they had chosen the trio for their undeniable chemistry after a “tough” decision.
While the trio have faced criticism from some viewers in recent weeks, others are enjoying their dynamic.
What to expect next on Strictly
The dance show is now in its seventh week, with the stars who survived the Halloween special set to put their best foot forward in a bid to get past the halfway point.
One star who won’t be dancing this weekend is Jaime Winstone, who will miss Saturday’s show after tearing an abdominal muscle in rehearsals.
Read more: Jaime Winstone ‘devastated’ as painful injury forces her out of Strictly Come Dancing this weekend
In line with the show’s rules, Jaime and her pro partner Carlos Gu have a bye to next week’s show while she recovers.
Strictly Come Dancing returns on Saturday, November 7, at 6.30pm on BBC One and 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.
