Emma Willis 'to be unveiled as new host of Strictly Come Dancing'
TV star Emma Willis is reportedly set to be unveiled as new host of Strictly Come Dancing following the departure of longtime presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.
Emma Willis is reportedly set to be unveiled as new host of Strictly Come Dancing.
The BBC has been looking for a new face to front the TV talent show following the departure of longtime presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, who stepped down at the end of 2025 after 11 years on air together, and now a new report suggests former Big Brother host Emma has been offered the job.
A source told The Sun newspaper: "Emma has been offered the Strictly job and is going to accept. She absolutely nailed the chemistry tests and the BBC adore her ...
"She was absolutely thrilled to have been offered the job. Strictly is one of the biggest shows on television and to be trusted with the new era is something Emma feels incredibly proud and humbled by."
The publication reports another top contender, Zoe Ball, is likely to join Emma in fronting Strictly Come Dancing after months of rumours linking her to the role.
A source added: "Zoe and her [Emma] really clicked and it’s looking likely that Zoe will take on the role Claudia held in the auditorium with the celebs and the pros.
"The BBC are excited about how their new look Strictly is coming together and think the public will agree."
The show's new hosts have yet to be confirmed but a spokesperson for the BBC told The Sun an update will be coming soon, saying: "Plans for Strictly Come Dancing 2026 will be confirmed in due course."
Other stars previously rumoured to be in the running for the top jobs included Holly Willoughby, Alan Carr, Amanda Holden, Alison Hammond, Alex Jones, Rylan Clark, Bradley Walsh and Rob Rinder.
Tess and Claudia Winkleman quit the BBC dance show at the end of the 2025 series in December after 11 years co-fronting together, and Claudia, 54, felt it was the right time to leave.
She told Closer magazine: "It's not that I wasn't excited at the end, but both of us were a bit like, 'Oh yeah, cool. All right, so then I do that ...'"
Claudia struggled to hold back tears ahead of her and Tess’ last show on December 20, in which they crowned former England footballer Karen Carney, 38, and her professional dance partner Carlos Gu, 33, the champions.
Claudia recalled: "All week we were like, 'We're fine,' but I could not stop crying. It has been my entire life. You know, sometimes when you decide something, like, 'Let's move house,' then you pick up the final box.
"It's not that you've done something wrong, but it just feels big."
Claudia hosted the weekday companion show, It Takes Two, from 2004 until 2010, when she moved over to the main programme to do the pre-recorded Sunday night results show with 57-year-old Tess.
Tess previously presented Strictly Come Dancing with the late Sir Bruce Forsyth from 2004 until he bowed out in April 2014.
Filling the shoes of the late entertainer - who died of complications from bronchopneumonia in August 2017, aged 89 - was challenging for Claudia.
She added: "Thankfully, I did not have to be him. Tess did all the heavy lifting as she was the one who took over from Bruce, really."
Claudia felt 2025 was the "right time" for her and Tess to depart Strictly Come Dancing because it "deserves change".
