It has been seven months since former Strictly Come Dancing hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman announced their shock departure from the show they co-hosted together for 11 years.
Now, according to reports, the BBC have found their new faces of the beloved programme following weeks of speculation.
The Daily Mail has reported that Josh Widdicombe and Emma Willis are set to fill Tess and Claudia’s shoes, with Johannaes Radebebe also set to be “part of the hosting line-up,” according to the publication.
The South African-born dancer and choreographer, 39, has been a professional on the show since 2018, but a new report now claims he could be presenting this year.
© Getty Images for EmiratesThe BBC is yet to confirm the new Strictly Come Dancing hosts, but has said plans for the new series will be “confirmed in due course”.
© Getty ImagesAll change
This is just one of the huge changes to production for the latest series of the glittering BBC show, as five of the favourite professional dancers have been let go from the programme.
It was announced earlier this year that Karen Hauer, 43, Gorka Marquez, 35, Nadiya Bychkova, 36, Michelle Tsiakkas, 30, and Luba Mushtuk, 36, will not be returning for the upcoming series of the show.
Fan favourite, Gorka, said he wasn’t returning to the programme due to a scheduling conflict between the BBC show and the Spanish version, on which he serves as a judge.
Alongside a black-and-white photo, Gorka wrote on Instagram: “After last year’s decision to step down as a full-time professional due to scheduling conflicts between Strictly and Dancing with the Stars Spain, I’ve decided that now is the time to hang up my dance shoes and say goodbye to Strictly Come Dancing.
© CREDIT LINE:BBC/Guy Levy“I will always be incredibly grateful to Strictly and the BBC for everything. Being part of the show has been so much more than just a professional opportunity—over the past 10 years, it allowed me to build a career from my passion, find love, start a family, and make lifelong friends. For that, I will forever be thankful.”
He continued: “Although I’m stepping away from the dance floor, I can’t wait to dance on the Strictly Pro Tour starting this week and continue being part of this incredible family. Now it’s time to take a step back, enjoy the sidelines… and hopefully hold up a few paddles and give out some tens along the way.
© CREDIT LINE:BBC/Ray Burmiston“Thank you to everyone who has supported me and shared their love throughout this incredible journey. Keep dancing.”
Meanwhile, Dianne Buswell, 37, Nancy Xu, 34, Vito Coppola, 33, Julian Caillon, 30, Carlos Gu, 33, Lauren Oakley, 35, Amy Dowden, 35, Katya Jones, 36, Neil Jones, 44, Nikita Kuzmin, 28, Jowita Przystał, 31, Johannes Radebe, 39, Aljaž Škorjanec, 36, Alexis Warr, 25, and Kai, 30, will be returning to the dance floor this year.
They will be joined by some new professional dancers who are yet to be announced.
The celebrities will be judged by Shirley Ballas, 65, Craig Revel Horwood, 61, Motsi Mabuse, 45, and Anton du Beke, 59.
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