Josh Widdicombe and Emma Willis have expressed their public backing for Johannes Radebe prior to their debut as presenters on the popular show “Strictly Come Dancing.” Earlier this year, it was revealed that comedian Josh, aged 43, alongside former Big Brother host Emma, aged 50, and Strictly professional Johannes, aged 39, would be taking over hosting duties on the BBC program from Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly.
Johannes, who joined Strictly in 2018, is currently starring as drag queen Lola in the West End production of Kinky Boots, a musical based on a 2005 film about a struggling shoe factory that shifts its focus to making footwear for men who cross-dress to prevent closure.
Recently, Josh shared on Instagram that he and Emma visited the London Coliseum where Kinky Boots is being performed to watch their co-star in action. In a post featuring a backstage photo with X Factor winner Matt Cardle, who portrays Charlie Price, Josh praised Johannes’ performance.
The trio had previously expressed their enthusiasm for their new roles during a photoshoot for the BBC dance show, as seen in a behind-the-scenes video shared on Strictly Come Dancing’s Instagram account.
The announcement of the new hosts generated anticipation among fans who had been eagerly waiting for nearly a year to learn who would take over from Tess and Claudia. Following the trio’s first public appearance, opinions among fans were divided, with some speculating that the lineup might change after just one season.
One fan on Twitter remarked, “I’m so sorry but even this photo backs up my theory that it’ll just be Emma + Johannes after 1 series. This is just so odd and you can’t keeeeep dancing like this!”
Another fan expressed uncertainty about Josh and Johannes, suggesting Emma should have been paired with Rylan instead. Yet, a different perspective was shared on Reddit, where a user mentioned producers being impressed with Johannes during the screen test, hinting at a possible shift in hosting dynamics.
While some fans expressed doubts, others remained optimistic, with one viewer wishing good luck to Josh, Emma, and Johannes, looking forward to the new lineup. Another fan, while initially unsure about Josh, expressed excitement about witnessing Johannes on screen weekly.
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