Emma Willis is reportedly set to join the spotlight of Strictly Come Dancing as one of the new hosts for the BBC series. The search for replacements for Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman has been ongoing since they left after the latest season, with various names being considered. However, it is now believed that Willis, 50, will be announced in the near future.
According to reports, the former Big Brother host, who has been described as “a safe pair of hands,” has been offered the role after “absolutely nailing the chemistry tests.” This move comes as a significant step in her career, building on her reputation as a reliable and versatile presenter.
It is strongly suspected that she will be announced alongside Zoe Ball, who would return to the Strictly fold five years after leaving the companion show It Takes Two. Reports suggest that Willis, known for her expertise in live TV situations, would take on the role previously held by Daly, while Ball would channel her conversational skills into the position once filled by Winkleman.
The pair are said to have “really clicked” during the auditions, which also saw Angela Scanlon being considered as a potential candidate. The Independent has reached out to both Willis and Ball for further comments.
Over the past two decades, Willis has established herself as one of the most dependable and versatile presenters on television. Her live broadcasting career began in 2002 when she was just 26, after she transitioned from a modelling career to join MTV. There, she interviewed early-Noughties pop stars alongside fellow alumni Laura Whitmore and Melvin Odoom. Since then, she has appeared on This Morning, hosted Big Brother and Love Is Blind, and worked on talent shows such as The Voice.
Ball has long been seen as a strong contender for the Strictly role. Last month, she teased that something “glamorous” was coming up, saying: “Obviously at the moment I can’t say anything about it.”
The BBC has stated that plans for Strictly 2026 will be announced in due course, with preparations already underway.
Ball expressed her desire to host the show in January, although she mentioned she had not yet spoken to the show’s bosses. “I will still be watching, whoever hosts,” she said, adding that Alan Carr, Amanda Holden, Vernon Kay, and Clark could be strong replacements.
This year’s Strictly will look different following a shake-up in the professional dancers’ cast. Gorka Marquez recently announced he had left the show after 10 years, following the exits of Karen Hauer, Nadiya Bychkova, Luba Mushtuk, and Michelle Tsiakkas.
The companion show It Takes Two is also expected to undergo a refresh to better reflect changing audience preferences. This change is similar to what happened with The Traitors: Uncloaked and The Apprentice: You’re Fired.
Reports suggest that It Takes Two will become a vodcast, allowing the hosts to film episodes for viewers and also record them for podcast listeners. However, the BBC has clarified that claims about Janette Manrara and Fleur East being axed from the show are incorrect.
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