This Morning star Sian Welby reveals her 'tears' over intense process for Strictly hosting job
Sian was in the running with many other namesThis Morning star Sian Welby has revealed she burst into tears after auditioning to present Strictly Come Dancing.
Speaking to The Mirror‘s Notebook Magazine, the This Morning star described the selection process as emotionally draining and intensely demanding. The 39-year-old joined the race after Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman announced their departures from Strictly last year. She valued being considered, although the pressure hit hard once the audition ended.
The presenting roles eventually went to Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe, who have now started their run. The trio have since fronted their first live show together, prompting mixed reactions among viewers.
For Sian, their appointment closed a demanding chapter in her own career. Her account shows how much she wanted the job.
This Morning favourite Sian Welby says pressure triggered tears over Strictly audition
Sian said: “It was a gruelling process with no messing about.”
The emotional release came later. She added: “I left the audition, got in the car and burst out crying. It was the adrenaline. I’d never concentrated so hard or wanted to impress so much, but it wasn’t my time.”
Afterwards, Sian could not decide whether the performance had gone brilliantly or disastrously. However, she now views the experience positively.
She also believes Emma was the right fit for Strictly. That generous verdict came despite the disappointment and pressure involved.
Strictly roles went to Emma, Josh and Johannes
Emma shares the presenting duties with Josh and Johannes. Johannes first joined Strictly as a professional dancer in 2018.
The change followed Tess and Claudia ending their long spell as Strictly’s presenting partnership. Many familiar names were considered, with several later speaking publicly about their disappointment.
Next, all 15 dancing duos are due back on the floor for Movie Week. The contest therefore moves quickly from the hosting handover towards its themed performances.
Zoe Ball and Rylan Clark also missed out
Sian was not alone. Former Strictly: It Takes Two presenters Zoe Ball and Rylan Clark were also considered for the roles.
Speaking on her Dig It podcast with Jo Whiley, Zoe discussed the emotional impact of rejection. She said: “I didn’t get it, but it’s okay. I have worked through the seven stages of grief and rejection over the last couple of days.”
Meanwhile, Rylan congratulated Emma, Johannes and Josh in an Instagram post. He admitted the decision was disappointing, but said he remained grateful to have been considered.
Read more: Strictly fans slam Johannes Radebe for repeated ‘error’ during his first live show
He also said he was genuinely looking forward to watching the new team. Like Sian, both presenters chose to support those who secured the roles.
Clara Amfo was also in the running for the Strictly hosting job. She admitted she felt a “bit gutted” at the time when she didn’t get it but she “quickly got over it”.
Strictly Come Dancing continues 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.
