Emma Willis is reportedly set to waltz her way into the Strictly Come Dancing spotlight as one of the new hosts of the BBC series.
The hunt has been on for Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman’s replacements since they left at the end of the latest series, and many names have been bandied around as contenders – but it’s believed Willis, 50, will be announced in due course.
According to reports, the former Big Brother host, who’s been hailed as “a safe pair of hands”, has been offered the job after “absolutely nailing the chemistry tests”.
It’s strongly suspected she’ll be announced alongside Zoe Ball, who would return to the Strictly fold five years after leaving companion show It Takes Two. The Sun reports that Willis, a pro in live TV situations, would take on the Daly role with Ball, 55, channelling her conversational skills for Winkleman’s former role.
The pair are said to have “really clicked” during the auditions, which also saw Angela Scanlon hotly tipped for a role. The Independent has contacted Willis and Ball for comment.
Over the last two decades, the likeable Willis has carved out a place as one of the most reliable, versatile presenters on the small screen.
Her live broadcasting career began in 2002 when she was just 26, after she ditched a modelling career to join MTV. There, she interviewed early-Noughties pop stars alongside fellow alumni Laura Whitmore and Melvin Odoom, and has since appeared on This Morning, hosted Big Brother and Love Is Blind, as well as talent show The Voice.
Ball has been considered a clear favourite for the Strictly role and, last month, she teased she had something “glamorous” coming up, stating: “Obviously at the moment I can’t say anything about it.”
The BBC told The Independent that plans for Strictly 2026 will be announced in due course, with preparations for the series underway.
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Ball said in January that she would “love” to host the show, but added that she had not 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.
Strictly will look a little different this year, following a shake-up of the professionals cast. Gorka Marquez announced this week he had left the show after 10 years, which followed the exits of Karen Hauer, Nadiya Bychkova, Luba Mushtuk and Michelle Tsiakkas.
It’s also been claimed that companion show It Takes Two will be refreshed to reflect changing audiences, much in the same way as happened with The Traitors: Uncloaked and The Apprentice: You’re Fired.
According to reports, the series will become a vodcast, meaning the hosts will film episodes for viewers and also record them for podcast listeners. It’s also been claimed that Janette Manrara and Fleur East will no longer present the show, but the BBC told The Independent last month: ”It is factually incorrect to claim that either has been axed.”
