Strictly Come Dancing star Amy Dowden backs Emma Willis to become new host
Following Tessy Daly and Claudia Winkleman's departure from the show, Amy Dowden has backed Emma Willis to become the new host of Strictly Come Dancing.
Amy Dowden wants Emma Willis to become the new host of Strictly Come Dancing.
After Tessy Daly and Claudia Winkleman stepped down from presenting the ballroom competition at the end of 2025, BBC bosses have been searching for their replacements - and Amy thinks Emma has what it takes to front Strictly Come Dancing.
Speaking with the Daily Mirror newspaper, the 35-year-old dancer said: “I’d personally go with Emma Willis. She’s a fantastic broadcaster, a true fan of the show, and passionate about dance just like Tess and Claudia.
“They’ll both be dearly missed, but the format of Strictly will continue. Watching partnerships grow, routines develop, and seeing people fall in love with dance, that’s what keeps it going.”
Amy also revealed she has not spoken to her former Strictly partner Thomas Skinner - whose appearance on the show was marred by controversy - since before Christmas, as he has been busy running a men’s Sunday walking club to promote men’s mental health.
She said: “We haven’t spoken recently - we’ve both been so busy. But we caught up just before Christmas, to wish each other well.”
Amy and the ex-Apprentice star were the first to be voted off Strictly in last year’s series, and Thomas later claimed the BBC had rigged the vote against him - though this was later disproven.
While Amy is backing Emma to become the new Strictly host, Nadiya Bychkova thinks judge Anton Du Beke and former Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two presenter Zoe Ball would be excellent replacements for Tess and Claudia.
When asked who she would like to see become the new faces of Strictly, Nadiya said: “I think there are many good candidates out there, so let's see. They are big shoes to fill, at the same time those people are going to bring something new and something different.
“Maybe Anton. I know he's a judge, but who knows. I think he could be amazing.
“There are so many wonderful people who in the past are connected with Strictly some how. I absolutely love Zoe Ball. I'm sure it's going to be two really amazing people. We'll see.”
Nadiya - who was partnered with former rugby union player Chris Robshaw on the last series of Strictly Come Dancing - will be back in the hunt for the glitterball trophy in 2026 and she is expecting the next series to be "bigger and better", just like it is every previous year.
She told BANG Showbiz: “Every year Strictly manages to improve. It's a incredible show, especially in terms of production, somehow it's always getting fresher and bigger and better. I'm sure it's going to be an incredible series.”
