Strictly Come Dancing’s toughest judge delivers verdict on new hosts
Strictly Come Dancing’s toughest judge delivers verdict on new hosts
Roisin O'ConnorThu, November 12, 2026 at 9:29 AM UTC
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Strictly Come Dancing’s fiercest judge Craig Revel Horwood has finally delivered his verdict on the BBC show’s new trio of hosts.
The 61-year-old choreographer admitted it was a “jolt” to see Josh Widdicombe, Emma Willis and Johannes Radebe replace Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly as hosts, but confirmed he thinks they've all brought “an extra oomph of energy”.
Writing in his column for Radio Times, Revel Horwood said he was “really loving” the new season of Strictly, including its new hosts.
“I think they provide an extra oomph of energy. Josh is very funny, and Emma is the ultimate professional,” he said. “And it’s great that we’ve got JoJo upstairs, who can demonstrate a bit of dancing as well. He’s the first host we’ve ever had who’s an accomplished dancer.”
He continued: “Of course, it was a little bit tentative at first without Tess and Claudia. It’s a jolt, like changing your family members. On the first show this year, we were all thinking, ‘Oh, how’s this going to go? What’s going to happen?’
“And I feel like we’ve got over all of that, and everyone knows what they’re doing. Like all good relationships, it takes time to develop. And I think it’s developed really nicely.”
The new trio: Josh Widdicombe, Emma Willis and Johannes Radebe (BBC)
Revel Horwood has been a judge on the show since it began in 2004. He wrote that he believes a willingness to change aspects of the show has been responsible for Strictly's longevity.
“I think change is what breathes fresh life into the production. People’s tastes change every year - fashion, music, culture - and Strictly is always keeping up with that,” he explained.
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“I think that’s what holds it at the top of its game, because it’s constantly moving with the times, and introducing new dances, styles and types of dancers every year.”
One such change was the controversial decision during Halloween Week to have three couples in the dance-off, with the judges voting for who they wanted to send home, rather than who they wanted to save.
Revel Horwood recently admitted that although the energy in the room was “weird” at the time, he'd love for the format to be adopted more often.
He said on Strictly: It Takes Two: “It was a little bit weird, I’ve got to be honest. We’re used to saving people and getting a cheer, but it was tumbleweed, darling. I thought, 'Oh, this feels a bit weird', but I sort of liked it.”
Craig Revel Horwood said he was a fan of the changes to the show (BBC, Strictly Come Dancing)
Asked if he'd like to vote that way again, he added: “Oh yes, please. You - out, go home! I love it.”
The Independent’s critic Rachel McGrath complained earlier this month that Strictly has become a “damp squib” of a show, writing that “it’s clear things aren’t exactly going as smoothly as producers had hoped”.
She cited the show’s dip in viewing figures as evidence that audiences aren’t so happy with the changes: 4.8 million tuned into the launch, down from last year’s 6.2 million.
“The weekly averages tell a similar story, with ratings ranging from 5 to 6 million, versus 7 million in 2025,” she wrote, going on to break down the key issues with the new series.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
