Richard Osman criticises Johannes Radebe's role on Strictly as he calls for change
Could Johannes' role change?Richard Osman says Strictly Come Dancing should reshape Johannes Radebe’s Clauditorium role after its new format’s shaky ratings start.
Speaking on his The Rest Is Entertainment podcast, Richard argued that the dancer needs material better suited to his strengths. His comments followed the first live show featuring Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes in revised roles.
Emma and Josh shared presenting duties on the dancefloor, while Johannes took charge of the backstage Clauditorium.
Richard Osman wants Strictly to use Johannes differently
Viewers gave the new line-up a mixed reception, and Richard focused on how Johannes was being used. He argued the professional dancer should not simply receive the same material once prepared for Claudia Winkleman.
“Johannes needs a slightly different role in the Clauditorium,” he said.
Richard suggested a more technical approach, closer to Strictly’s companion programme It Takes Two. “And Johannes needs something a bit more It Takes Two, where you go into maybe some of the technical details or something a bit more,” he said.
“I’m not sure he can do the emotional journey in the same way that Claudia can, or the comic stuff or the diffusing of the tension,” he then added.
Richard Osman also wants celebrity introductions changed
Richard also criticised the familiar formula used when celebrities introduce themselves to Strictly viewers. He urged producers to drop phrases such as “You’ll probably know me for” and “I’m best known as”.
He called the wording embarrassing for the celebrity, programme and audience. Richard illustrated his point with someone simply describing their work, rather than announcing their own level of fame.
Together, his comments amount to a plea for clearer roles and less self-conscious introductions around the revamped show.
Strictly Come Dancing ratings put changes under focus
The first live show drew 4.8 million viewers on Saturday, compared with 6.2 million for last year’s equivalent. It marked the first time since 2019 that Strictly’s first live programme rated below its pre-recorded launch.
The launch peaked at 5.8 million viewers, slightly above last year’s 5.6 million peak. However, its 5.3 million average was just below the 5.4 million recorded in 2025.
A Strictly spokesperson stressed that the programme still led the night. “Strictly was the most watched programme of the night, with a peak of 5 million viewers. As ever, overnight ratings do not give the full picture of all those who watch in an on-demand world.”
The revised team replaced Tess Daly and Claudia, who left after the 2025 series. Emma had acknowledged feeling nervous about the live element before introducing the judges and contestants.
Some viewers questioned Josh’s place, although others praised his playful change-partners joke. That divided reaction leaves the production with a clear early-season question: how quickly can its new roles settle?
Richard’s answer is not to recreate Claudia’s performance through Johannes, but to build around his own expertise.
Read more: Strictly star Janette Manrara admits she ‘sobbed for weeks’ after being ‘rejected’ from hosting job
Strictly continues on 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.
