Strictly Come Dancing legend Ian Waite says show is missing an underdog story in 2026
Former Strictly Come Dancing pro Ian Waite believes the 2026 series is lacking an underdog story and a celebrity that the viewers can go on a journey with.
Strictly Come Dancing legend Ian Waite thinks this year's show is lacking an underdog contestant like John Sergeant.
Ian – who competed on seven series of the BBC ballroom show, making the final with Zoe Ball in 2005 and finishing in third place – says this year’s crop of celebrities are too good on the dancefloor and viewers are missing out on a journey where a contestant goes from being really bad to improving each week, just like they saw with journalist John in 2008 and former Labour politician Ed Balls in 2016.
Speaking to BANG Showbiz, he said: “This year there are quite a lot of good dancers.
“I personally don’t think there is enough bad dancers in there. You know, like in the old days when we had John Sergeant and Ed Balls and they were terrible and we were laughing at them because they were so bad. We don’t really have anyone like that this year which is a shame, because it would give it a bit more variety.”
Strictly Come Dancing has a new presenting line-up following the departures of Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.
Ian has so far been underwhelmed by the new presenting trio of Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe.
But Ian is not writing them off yet, as he thinks they all need to find their place on the show and viewers have to get used to the new format, just like they did when Claudia took over from Bruce Forsyth in September 2014.
Speaking on behalf of BestBettingBonuses.co.uk, he said: “It’s got better! I think even when Claudia took over from Bruce there was an element of, ‘This looks weird,’ with two women presenting. But once we got used to it then it was a great combination. It think it’s just maybe we have to get used to. We’re not used to seeing three presenters front a show like that.
“Listen, I think the reason why Josh has been brought in I think is obvious, it’s for the comedy factor and for his humour because he is so funny. But I do think he’s not come into his own yet as far as the humour is concerned. I think he’s is warming up and I think he’s getting there, it will happen but maybe it just needs a bit of time for them all to settle in and work out their proper roles in the show.”
Paralympian Sarah Storey and her professional dance partner Julian Caillon became the third couple to be eliminated from Strictly Come Dancing on Sunday (18.10.26).
Storey and Caillon were voted off the BBC One show after they failed to impress the judges with a tango to Shania Twain's That Don't Impress Me Much.
They had placed bottom of the leaderboard during Saturday's Icons Week episode, having scored 21 for their routine.
In the dance-off they were up against House of the Dragon actress Bethany Antonia and her professional dance partner Nancy Xu.
Judges Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke chose to save Antonia and Xu, meaning head judge Shirley Ballas did not need to use her deciding vote.
