Strictly Come Dancing Legend Questions BBC’s Hosting Choice, But Says Josh Widdicombe Isn’t the Only Concern
Former Strictly Come Dancing professional Brendan Cole has questioned whether the BBC made the right decision in appointing its new presenting team, admitting that he has struggled to enjoy the latest series so far.
The BBC show introduced Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe as its new hosts in September 2026, replacing long-serving presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. While viewers have appeared to respond positively to Emma, Josh and Johannes have faced criticism over their performances in the role.
Some viewers have questioned Josh’s presenting skills, pointing to moments when he appeared to miss his cue or seemed out of place alongside his co-hosts. Johannes, meanwhile, has faced scrutiny over his limited experience as a presenter, with some fans suggesting he was better suited to his previous role as a professional dancer on the programme.
Cole, who was a Strictly professional from 2004 to 2017, has now offered his own assessment of the new line-up, suggesting that the BBC may already be reconsidering its decision.
Brendan Cole shares his verdict on Strictly’s new hosts
Speaking on Jeremy Vine, Cole acknowledged the backlash surrounding the presenting team but said his concerns were not limited to Josh Widdicombe.
“There’s been a massive backlash to the hosts because it’s not what people are used to. I’m not enjoying it so far,” he said.
Although he praised Emma Willis for her performance, Cole was less convinced that Josh was the right choice for the ballroom competition. He made clear that he did not consider the comedian a poor presenter, but questioned whether his style suited the programme.
“I think Emma has been great. I think Josh is trying to be great and I don’t think he’s a bad host, but does he fit Strictly? I’m not sure.”
Cole also addressed Johannes Radebe’s appointment. Having previously competed on the show as a professional dancer, Johannes has an established connection to the Strictly world. However, Cole suggested that certain aspects of his presenting style had become repetitive.
He said he did not want to hear the phrase “my darling” every time a couple came upstairs, indicating that the new hosting team’s on-screen approach had not entirely won him over.
Cole went on to suggest that BBC executives might now be questioning whether they had made the right choice.
“I think the BBC are probably looking at themselves now and wondering if they’ve made the right decision,” he added.
The former professional also acknowledged that his comments could be dismissed as the complaints of someone who had once been part of the programme.
“People will call me a bitter old pro. I probably am, I’ve just got an opinion on the show like everybody else because I was heavily invested in it for such a long time.”
Cole questions the length of the Saturday night show
The new presenters were not Cole’s only concern. He also criticised the length of Strictly Come Dancing, arguing that its Saturday night episodes, which run for more than two and a half hours, demand too much time from viewers.
“People haven’t got that much time to sit around watching television,” he remarked.
His comments extended to the programme’s celebrity contestants, whom he compared with the cast of Celebrity Traitors.
Cole argued that the latter programme benefits from a line-up of familiar faces, making it easier for audiences to recognise the participants and develop an interest in them. By contrast, he said he knew very few of this year’s Strictly contestants by name.
“Every single person on the Traitors is a household name where you can put the face to the name. Whereas with Strictly, I knew three of them by name. The rest of them I don’t know, so there’s no investment.”
He acknowledged that the new professional dancers could eventually become household names themselves. However, he suggested that their relative lack of recognition currently makes it harder for viewers to feel invested in them.
Cole’s remarks highlight his broader concerns about the programme’s direction, from its new presenting team to the length of its weekly broadcasts and the familiarity of its celebrity line-up. While he has singled out aspects of the new hosts’ performances, his criticism also reflects his view that the show needs to give audiences more reasons to connect with what they see on screen.