rendan Cole has said heās worried about the future of Strictly Come Dancing after the BBC announced theĀ three new hostsĀ of the series.
Earlier this month, Emma Willis, Johannes Radebe and Josh Widdicombe were announced as the stars taking over from Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.
However, ex-pro dancer Brendan is worried about what it means for the future of the show, admitting that heād have gone with Strictly judge Anton Du Beke as the lead host.
āAnton shouldāve been the lead Strictly hostā
SpeakingĀ toĀ Sky Vegas, Brendan shared his reaction to the news that Emma, Johannes and Josh will be filling Tess and Claudiaās shoes.
And, it seems, the announcement sparked concerns over what it means for the future of the show, with Brendan insisting Anton Du Beke wouldāve been a better pair of hands to steady the ship.
āI probably would have gone with Anton Du Beke as the lead host,ā said Brendan. āHe feels like the natural fit because he understands the DNA of Strictly better than almost anyone.
āHeās been part of the show for years, he knows ballroom and Latin inside out, and he understands the contestants and the pressure theyāre under.ā
Brendan added that he thinks Emma Willis is āan excellent presenter and could bring something fresh to the programmeā. However, heād have āpreferred to see her in more of Claudiaās role, while Anton led the main presenting side of the showā.
Moving Johannes Radebe from pro dancer to presenter may prove to be a wrong move, Brendan warned. And he doesnāt exactly have high hopes for Josh Widdicombe, either.
āBefore, Strictly had class and quality at its centreā
āJohannes is obviously incredibly flamboyant and very showbiz in everything he does ā the way he dresses, talks and carries himself. If thatās the direction the producers want to lean into, then maybe theyāve nailed it. If theyāre aiming for something more grounded and focused on the couples and the behind-the-scenes emotion, then Iām not so sure.
āIāve always thought Strictlyās strength was its core audience ā middle-aged and older viewers, particularly women and families. Iāve never really understood the push to constantly chase younger viewers. Strictly became special because it embraced old-school entertainment, elegance, and escapism.
āI think this was a real opportunity to bring the show back to its roots and recapture some of the magic and beauty it used to have. Itās still a great show, but now it leans much more into comedy and silliness. Whereas before it had more class and quality at its centre.ā
āYou need someone with showbiz at their heartā
Speaking about Josh, he added: āI love Josh, I think heās a brilliant comedian with a lot of charm, and heās a clever presenter. But Iām not entirely sure Strictly fits the mould for him. Thatās not to say he wonāt be brilliant. But when I think about hosting a ballroom and Latin show, Iāve always believed you need someone with dance and show business at their heart.
āFor me, the ideal host is a triple threat. Somebody who can sing, dance and act, somebody who understands entertainment at the highest level. Strictly is shiny-floor Saturday night television at its best. What Sir Bruce Forsyth brought was class, authority and old-school entertainment magic. Iām not saying you need somebody in their eighties. But you do need someone with that level of gravitas and understanding of the world theyāre presenting.
āThatās why Anton Du Beke would have been the natural progression for the role. He understands the show better than most people because heās been there for so long, and he can present. I think he could have moved into hosting while perhaps someone a bit feistier took his judging seat. Heās got the age, the experience and the connection with the audience.ā
āReal challengeā lies ahead
Issuing a warning to the Beeb, Brendan said the show might have its work cut out trying to convince audiences to give the new Strictly hosts a go.
āAudiences are quite fickle ā theyāll get on board quickly if the show works. I think the new presenting lineup will create curiosity at the beginning, and people will tune in to see whatās changed.
āWhether it keeps people watching long-term depends on whether the show does something genuinely special with the new format and presenters.
āThe ratings havenāt held at the same level for a few years, so thereās pressure there. Theyāll get an initial boost from the changes but sustaining that interest is the real challenge.ā
