After months of waiting with bated breath, Emma Willis is reportedly the frontrunner to host Strictly Come Dancing when it returns this autumn.
Since longtime co-hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman stepped down from BBC’s flagship reality show at the end of 2025, the question of who will take over has been on everyone’s lips.
According to reports, the national broadcaster had whittled it down to a 10-person shortlist with a rigorous audition process involving screen and chemistry tests.
Major TV stars, including Alison Hammond and Rylan Clark, were said to be in the running with media personalities such as former It Takes Two host Zoe Ball, Angela Scanlon and, unexpectedly, comedian Josh Widdecombe, emerging as top choices for the gig.
Now, a source has claimed Big Brother icon Emma has wowed BBC bosses with an impressive chemistry test, proving herself a ‘safe pair of hands’ who’s already a ‘household name’.
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The insider continued to The Sun: ‘…The BBC knows she will do the job justice.
‘She’s incredibly popular with the public too and will suit the role down to a tee. She was absolutely thrilled to have been offered the job.’
Claiming she plans to accept the offer, the source concluded: ‘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 BBC has previously stated: ‘Plans for Strictly Come Dancing 2026 will be confirmed in due course.’
The mum-of-three, 50, has ample experience hosting some of the biggest shows around, including Big Brother, Celebrity Big Brother and, most recently, Love Is Blind UK alongside husband Matt, which has been a certifiable hit.
If true about Strictly, the question remains who will join her on the dance floor. It has been said that former Radio 2 host Zoe is a strong contender.
Fans were even more convinced she is close to landing the gig after she mass-followed all the returning pros and judges after the BBC’s announcement last week, as well as commenting underneath the social media post.
Meanwhile, an insider told The Sun that comic Josh, 43, wowed with his ‘razor-sharp’ audition, making him a strong contender.
‘Josh blew the producers away with his deadpan, witty banter. He is family-friendly, having helmed several shows now, and loves Strictly,’ a source previously said.
If Joush does secure the job, he’ll be the first male presenter since Sir Bruce Forsyth.
The BBC confirmed last week that the new pros (following the axing of five professional dancers) would be announced closer to the new season, meaning all the focus is now on who the new hosts will be.
Elsewhere, speculation also remains over the fate of the Strictly spin-off show, It Takes Two, after reports it was set to be converted into a visual podcast.
Metro has reached out to the BBC and Emma Willis’ representative for comment.
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