Strictly Come Dancing is reportedly set to undergo a significant transformation when it returns to screens later this year, with BBC bosses planning a major overhaul of the popular dancing programme. The show will feature three new hosts following the departure of Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, along with several professional dancers making way for fresh talent.
New Hosts and Professional Changes
Emma Willis, comedian Josh Widdicombe, and professional dancer Johannes Radebe will make their presenting debut on the show in autumn. The trio will replace the long-standing duo of Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, marking a new era for the programme. Additionally, a string of professional stars have left, allowing new names to take to the dancefloor.
Set Redesign and Visual Upgrades
Sources indicate that the iconic backdrop of the show, currently featuring bright coloured panels, lights, and screens at the George Lucas studio in Elstree, may be replaced with larger screens that display visuals during routines. The revamped set is expected to be more sleek and impressive while retaining the traditional essence of fun, glitz, and sparkles. The staircase and band will remain, but the rest of the display will reportedly utilise giant green screens, similar to the setup seen on the UK tour of Strictly: The Professionals. The Clauditorium is said to stay the same.
A source told The Sun: "It was natural that bosses look at giving the show a whole new look as it enters a new era, but they aren't ditching the traditional presentation of the show, just the way it is delivered. It's going to get a more sleek, impressive set, but it will still be all about fun, glitz and sparkles. They aren't trying to turn it into the set of Star Wars. But it would have been strange not to have made some change to the look of the show, given that the programme is starting a new chapter with so many other new elements."
Other Changes and Departures
Janette Manrara will not return to the spin-off show It Takes Two, confirming her departure from the series. In a video on her YouTube account, she said: "Strictly Come Dancing has changed hugely, and I am no longer a part of It Takes Two or the main show. I'll still be involved in other ways. But that just means that I'm free to pursue and do many other projects that I've always wanted to do and never really thought about doing. Strictly is all I've known for the last 14 years so it is a bit like, 'Oh, we're going into a different world, a different space, how are we going to navigate that?'"
The Mirror has approached Strictly Come Dancing for comment.
