Strictly Come Dancing kicked off last weekend after a number of changes, including three new presenters and five new dancers – and one star admitted “I am unsettled”
It has been a season of change for Strictly Come Dancing this year. Long-time hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman have gone, to be replaced by Emma Willis, Johannes Radebe and Josh Widdicombe.
Five professional dancers have also left, including the long-serving Karen Hauer and Gorka Marquez. Others leaving include Luba Mushtuk, Nadiya Bychkova and Michelle Tsiakkas.
The launch show last Saturday (September 20) was met with mixed reviews, and it appears these concerns are showed by those with connections to the BBC show.
Broadcasting icon Angela Rippon became the oldest contestant in the show’s history when she signed up to compete in 2023 at the age of 79. She had a great time with professional partner Kai Widdrington, but she is worried about the raft of changes in 2026, admitting it makes her “unsettled”.
Speaking on the At Home with Vanessa podcast, she told Vanessa Feltz: “My own feeling is you have to give it a chance. My own feeling is I am unsettled by what they’ve done. Because, as a presenter, I feel that the role that Emma is taking on is a one person job.
“As for JoJo (Johannes Radebe), I just adore him, he’s another great mate. He’s such a stunning dancer. He’s going to be up taking over from Claudia. It is all smoke and mirrors even when it’s all live.
“What I would have suggested was that JoJo should still be in the group dances because he is brilliant, as well as being in the Clauditorium stuff. Because you could have pulled that off, because we know they’re pre-recorded.”
Angela, who is now 82, eventually became the eighth contestant eliminated and calls Kai Widdrington a great partner and friend. She became an incredibly popular celebrity on the show as she wowed fans with her high-kick and flexibility.
She also appeared on the show on the same series as Amanda Abbington. The Sherlock actress accused her professional partner, Giovanni Pernice, of bullying and harassment.
She eventually left the series early and lodged a formal complaint with the BBC. Giovanni denied the claims but following an investigation, the BBC upheld six out of 17 complaints against the dancer relating to verbal bullying and harassment.
However, allegations of physical aggression were not upheld. Giovanni later left the show.
Angela said that everyone on the show was “aware of the tension between the two of them”. She continued: “But it’s not my place to really talk about it in public. Amanda was very distressed by it and I think the whole crew were very distressed. That was a big one off. “There had been other occasions when some of the professional dancers did not treat their partners particularly well, but that’s for them (the production company) to handle.
“I was so lucky in having Kai as a partner and friend and that’s what 90% of people who take part get. It’s a cauldron of tension, of passion, of all sorts of things.”
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