Emma

Emma Willis dropped several hints on Instagram before the official BBC Strictly Come Dancing presenter announcement – and these five telling clues show she was always destined for the role

With the news announced today (May 19) that Emma Willis is joining Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe in the ultimate Strictly hosting trio, we’ve been examining her Instagram feed for the telltale signs that this had been in the pipeline for quite some time.

Following months of wild speculation after Tess and Claudia’s emotional exit, the BBC has at last announced that Emma Willis is entering the nation’s most dazzling ballroom. Yet for devoted followers monitoring @‌emmawillisofficial, the reveal may not have been entirely unexpected, as online detectives have been doing their thing! Scrolling through her stylish Instagram profile, it appears Emma has been leaving clues about her Strictly Come Dancing fate for months.

From perfecting the quintessential presenter look to demonstrating her live broadcasting prowess, here are the subtle signals that suggested she was always destined for the ballroom.

1. The trademark ‘Claudia’ power suits

If there’s one commandment of Strictly presenting, it’s that you need an impeccable wardrobe of tailored suits—and Emma’s Instagram essentially serves as a tutorial in power dressing.

Well before the BBC’s official word, her profile has been brimming with sharp tailoring, pristine blazers, and sophisticated monochrome ensembles. Whether she’s sporting a velvet suit that channels “Movie Week” or a polished black tuxedo radiating serious Claudia Winkleman vibes, Emma has been visually campaigning for the Saturday night style icon position for years.

2. Mastering the co-host dynamic

Tess and Claudia were the ultimate television double act, meaning any successor needed to know how to share the spotlight. Fortunately, Emma’s recent social media activity has been largely centred on her effortless chemistry with her favourite co-host: her husband, Matt Willis.

Through their promotional content for Love Is Blind UK, Emma has demonstrated she is the undisputed queen of the sideways glance, the encouraging nod, and the sharp-witted ad-lib.

If she can manage emotionally volatile reality stars while bouncing off her husband, keeping Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe in check on a live Saturday night will be an absolute doddle.

3.Live TV glamour prep

You can’t simply waltz onto the Strictly set without a genuine appreciation for serious glamour, and Emma’s behind-the-scenes posts have been quietly radiating “high production value.” Her feed is scattered with backstage selfies in the makeup chair, highlighting her flawless, camera-ready look and her famously stylish, cropped hair being expertly perfected by her team of stylists.

She has a profound appreciation for the effort required to get television-ready, regularly tagging her glam squad. She’s already well-versed in spending hours in the makeup chair — now they simply need to double the hairspray and throw in a few rhinestones.

4. Ballroom-ready fitness

While she may be clutching the microphone instead of performing the Argentine Tango, presenting Strictly demands hours of standing in stilettos, racing up and down those iconic stairs, and maintaining relentless energy.

Throughout the past year, Emma’s followers will have spotted subtle hints about her remarkable fitness regimen. From Pilates classes to core-focused training, she’s been steadily developing the endurance needed to endure the demanding autumn timetable. Those stairs won’t stand a chance.

5. A secret penchant for sequins

Emma is typically recognised for her low-key, effortlessly chic style, but occasionally, her feed unveils a glimpse of pure theatricality.

A surprise appearance of a shimmering party frock here, a glittering statement piece there—these were the key subliminal hints. She’s been gradually preparing us for a universe where she can confidently stand alongside a rhumba performer draped entirely in Swarovski crystals without appearing remotely uncomfortable.

The Verdict

The BBC couldn’t have selected a superior candidate. Emma Willis’s Instagram demonstrates she holds the precise combination needed to embrace the Strictly role: she’s exceptionally stylish, genuinely compassionate, and completely unruffled by live broadcasting mayhem.

People have been leaving comments on her social media saying that she’ll be “perfect” for the role, and they can’t wait to watch the three of them in action.

As she teams up with Josh and Johannes to introduce a brand-new chapter of Saturday evening entertainment, one thing is guaranteed, and that’s that her feed is about to become considerably more dazzling.

Emma Raducanu suffered a narrow first-round defeat in Strasbourg as she returned to action after more than two months away from the WTA Tour.

The British number one has been recovering from a post-viral illness and had not played since a third-round defeat by Amanda Anisimova at Indian Wells in March.

Granted a wildcard for the WTA 500 event in Strasbourg, her return did not go to plan as she fell to a 6-4 7-6 (7-4) defeat by French home hope Diane Parry.

It means Raducanu will have played just one match on clay before the French Open – the second Grand Slam event of the year – starts on Sunday.

After a 10-week absence from the Tour, Raducanu has slipped from 23rd to 37th in the world rankings and she will not be seeded at Roland Garros.

Playing her first match since reuniting with coach Andrew Richardson – who helped guide her to the US Open title as a teenage qualifier – Raducanu got off to a strong start in France, spraying fierce backhand winners down the line and moving nimbly around the court as she broke for a 4-2 lead.

But double faults started to creep into the her game and Parry reeled Raducanu back in before taking charge to wrap up the opener.

After saving five break points to stop Parry from pulling away early in the second set, Raducanu briefly rediscovered her rhythm to strike first – only to watch the world number 94 break back immediately again.

The Frenchwoman broke again to go 5-4 up, but Raducanu held firm to stop Parry from serving out the victory on two occasions and force a tie-break.

After whacking the ball into the stands in frustration, Parry regained her composure to eventually see out the straight-set victory after two hours and 26 minutes.

While the loss limits Raducanu’s preparation for the French Open, there are positives to take for the Briton as she heads to Paris.

She looked relaxed as Richardson dished out instructions and encouragement from the player’s box, while she showed resilience in fending off 16 break points and making it difficult for Parry until the end.

Parry will face either China’s Shuai Zhang in the second round after she defeated Spain’s Cristina Bucsa 2-6 7-6 (9-7) 7-5.

British number one Emma Raducanu will make her return to action in Strasbourg after being granted a wildcard, as she seeks match practice before the French Open.

Raducanu, 23, withdrew from the Italian Open on health grounds earlier this month and has not competed since a third-round loss to American Amanda Anisimova at Indian Wells on 8 March.

The clay-court event in Strasbourg begins on Sunday, one week before the start of the French Open on 24 May.

Raducanu is set to miss out on a seeded position at the second Grand Slam of the year following the post-viral infection which has kept her away from the tour.

The 2021 US Open winner is currently ranked 30th in the world but will drop several places following the conclusion of this week’s tournaments in Rome and Paris.

Raducanu was granted a wildcard for last year’s WTA 500 event in Strasbourg, where she beat top-20 player Daria Kasatkina before losing to American Danielle Collins.

The Briton has won seven of her 14 matches this year, with four of those victories coming during her run to the final of the Transylvania Open in February after her second-round exit at the Australian Open.

Raducanu gave no clear indication that she would pull out of the Italian Open in March despite speaking to the media just 30 minutes before that decision was announced, but said she only wanted to return to competition when “100% ready”.

Strictly Come Dancing star Johannes Radebe is reportedly set to join telly favourite Emma Willis as the second presenter of the BBC dancing competition

A Strictly Come Dancing star is set to become the latest presenter. Fan favourite Johannes Radebe is being lined up to join telly star Emma Willis as the next dynamic duo to front the show.

It’s claimed that Johannes, whose nickname is JoJo, left bosses with no other option but to sign him up after the recent auditions to replace Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.

Since Tess and Claudia announced their departure, the show’s bosses have been scrambling to find a replacement, with dozens of familiar faces lining up to audition for the role. Emma Willis was one of the top choices, with sources saying she “nailed the chemistry tests and the BBC adore her”.

And Johannes is so well-liked that even the celebrities are saying the job is as good as his. A source told The Sun: “During the chemistry tests he was paired up with every other celeb and did incredibly well. They all think he would be the perfect partner for Emma.”

A source went on to explain that while the professional dancers have already been announced, including Johannes, that doesn’t mean he won’t get the promotion. His role, according to sources, is currently being figured out after bosses were said to be considering bringing in three new people.

Johannes could even be a roving reporter for the show. “He knows the dances better than anyone and is incredibly popular with Strictly fans,” the source said. They added: “Whether he’s going to be a host like Emma or take a slightly different presenting role is being ironed out.”

The South African-born star joined the BBC show in 2018 and, since then, has danced with the likes of Annabel Croft, Catherine Tyldesley and Alex Kingston. He and John Waite became the first same-sex partnership to reach the live final in 2021.

Meanwhile, Josh Widdicombe is also reportedly still being considered as a presenter for the programme. An announcement is expected in the coming days.

Zoe Ball, who had been a firm front-runner for the job, recently said she was “grieving” after missing out. Zoe competed on the show in 2005, before returning in 2011 to front Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two, until she departed in 2020.

In the latest episode of her Dig It podcast, Zoe put on a brave face as she said she was thrilled to be “in the mix” of presenters who were invited to audition. “I didn’t get it, but it’s okay,” said Zoe. “I have worked through the seven stages of grief and rejection over the last couple of days. I was so chuffed to even be in the mix. There were some pretty amazing people who didn’t even make it into the mix.

“So I made it in the mix, and I had a really fun time having one last little play at a show that I love and adore. And I’m so thrilled for the gang that has got it. I think there’s been so many eyes on this whole process, everyone’s quite relieved now that a decision has been made and the right ­decision has been made.” She added that the show was in “safe hands”.

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It has been reported that a popular pair of presenters have signed up to replace Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman on Strictly Come Dancing after impressing bosses

Emma Willis is said to have been offered the Strictly Come Dancing hosting role alongside another famous face.

There has been much speculation about who might replace Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman on the BBC Latin and ballroom show after they chose to step down from the show last year.

It is believed the BBC held auditions for a number of stars, and it has now been reportedly revealed that the BBC are set to offer the role to Emma Willis, with Zoe Ball also expected to take on the second role.

A source said: “Emma has been offered the Strictly job and is going to accept. She absolutely nailed the chemistry tests and the BBC adore her. Emma is a household name and a safe pair of hands so the BBC know 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. 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.”

It is believed Zoe Ball will also be asked to star alongside Emma, taking over from Tess and Claudia. The pair reportedly did a chemistry test together, as well as other pairings including Alex Jones and Rylan Clark and Bradley Walsh and Rob Rinder.

“Emma is seen as the Tess of the duo. Her background in live – and occasionally tense – broadcasting situations means she can handle anything that is thrown at her,” a source told The Sun.

“Zoe and her really clicked and it’s looking likely that Zoe will take on the role Claudia held in the auditorium with the celebs and the pro’s. The BBC are excited about how their new look Strictly is coming together and think the public will agree.”

A spokesperson for the BBC told The Mirror: “Plans for Strictly Come Dancing 2026 will be confirmed in due course.”

Emma and Zoe are both big names within the BBC, with them both having radio shows with the broadcaster. Emma hosts her own Saturday afternoon show on BBC Radio 2.

She had previously shared how much she loves the BBC dancing show. Speaking in 2021, when asked about taking part on the show, she explained: “If I had time, I would do it in a heartbeat. Like I absolutely love it.”

Tess and Claudia announced back in September that they were quitting the show after the end of that series.

“We have loved working as a duo and hosting Strictly has been an absolute dream. We were always going to leave together and now feels like the right time. We will have the greatest rest of this amazing series and we just want to say an enormous thank you to the BBC and to every single person who works on the show,” they said.

“They’re the most brilliant team and we’ll miss them every day. We will cry when we say the last “keep dancing” but we will continue to say it to each other. Just possibly in tracksuit bottoms at home while holding some pizza.”

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Emma Raducanu is targeting a return to the WTA Tour in Strasbourg in two weeks’ time following her withdrawal from the Italian Open on health grounds.

The British number one is, however, reliant on a wildcard having missed the entry deadline.

Raducanu, 23, was granted a wildcard for last year’s WTA 500 event and beat top 20 player Daria Kasatkina, before losing to American Danielle Collins.

The tournament, which starts on 17 May, has not yet confirmed whether a wildcard will be forthcoming.

Of the six British singles players who began the year in the top 100, Cameron Norrie is the only one to have avoided injury or illness, and he has returned impressively to the world’s top 20 in recent weeks.

Raducanu, 23, had been due to return at the Italian Open in Rome this week but withdrew after her media commitments on Tuesday with post-viral symptoms. Kartal is currently on track to reappear during the grass-court season, but the back injury the 24-year-old suffered during her run to the Indian Wells fourth round in March has cost her the entire clay swing.

Francesca Jones had a month out after a glute injury at the Australian Open and Draper’s comeback from his serious arm injury has been checked by a knee problem, while Fearnley came through qualifying in Rome after a seven-week absence.

British number three Katie Boulter, who tumbled out of the top 100 last year as she battled foot and hip injuries, says it can be hard to step away even if players have information to suggest their bodies are at breaking point.

Fitness trackers, which offer performance analysts a wealth of data, will be allowed on a trial basis at this year’s remaining three Grand Slams, as they have been for a while now on the men’s and women’s tours.

But Boulter, who has climbed back into the top 60, told BBC Sport: “I think it’s impossible as a tennis player to be like, ‘I’m going to take the week off because my wearable [device] says that I’m in red’.

“Financially, there might be people that don’t have that luxury to stop a week out of their schedule and not play – the majority of us are still trying to make a living.

“I’ve played through many injuries, I’ve also stopped through many injuries. Ultimately you have to make the best judgement call you can.

“It’s good to have that information, but it doesn’t necessarily marry up sometimes.”

The LTA has refreshed its entire physiotherapy staff over the past 18 months and believes it now has the right expertise to support the modern player. The next task is to consider how best to upgrade its recovery facilities.

British players have a lot more resources at their disposal than many other nationalities. An LTA physio was sent to Miami in March as Kartal started to realise the extent of her back problem, but the emphasis is also on players building their own support network.

Raducanu last played a match in Indian Wells on 8 March, and has since missed the Miami Open and clay-court events in Linz and Madrid because of her post-viral symptoms.

However, the 23-year-old has been practising in recent weeks at the National Tennis Centre in London and at the Ferrer Academy near Benidorm.

She had been accompanied in Rome by Jane O’Donoghue, a friend and former LTA national coach, and physio Emma Stewart, who perhaps tellingly was with Raducanu during her interviews.

“Coming on to the clay courts is much more physically demanding than potentially other surfaces but I want to come back 100% ready,” Raducanu said.

“I have been building my way up slowly and looking forward to when I get out there.”

We now know she will not be getting out there in Rome this week.

Raducanu has one last chance to play a WTA event before the French Open in either Strasbourg or Rabat in two weeks’ time.

But if she misses the entire clay swing, then Raducanu will have been absent for three months by the time the grass-court season begins.

Even if Raducanu is fit to compete at Roland Garros, which begins on 24 May, she will do so as an unseeded player.

The 2021 US Open champion is currently 30 in the world rankings but only 32 players are seeded – and she will drop several places now she is no longer able to defend the points she earned from a fourth-round run in Rome last year.

British judoka Emma Reid won silver to clinch the first European Championships medal of her career.

Reid, who finished fifth in 2025, was beaten in the- 78kg final by Italy’s Alice Bellandi in Tbilisi, Georgia.

“I’m very happy with my performance, and it’s great to end the day with a medal,” said 30-year-old Reid, who won bronze at the World Championships in 2024.

“It has been a tough and busy block at the start of this year, so it’s nice to see the hard work paying off with my first European Championships medal.”

Reid won her last-16 and quarter-final contests with sankaku-gatame against Ukrainian Anna Kazakova and juji-gatame against Lithuanian Migle Julija Dudenaite respectively.

She then guaranteed herself at least silver by forcing her semi-final opponent, Slovenia’s Metka Lobnik, to submit just one minute into the contest.

HOLLY Willoughby giggled the afternoon away on a boozy lunch with her star-studded girl squad after it was revealed she’s plotting a major career rebrand.

Former darling of ITV, Holly, 45, took centre stage in a fun video clip from a lunch date with pals Nicole Appleton, Emma Bunton, Christine Lampard and Vice President of Artist Relations at Universal Music, Shiarra Bell.

Mojitos looked to be the favoured drink for most of the girl gang, who appeared in playful mood as they looked into the camera.

Holly chose the Sex and the City theme to soundtrack the clip on Instagram and continued the US drama theme in the caption which referenced lead character Carrie Bradshaw [Sarah Jessica Parker].

She wrote: “As Carrie Bradshaw said… They say nothing lasts forever; dreams change, trends come and go, but friendships never go out of style. Love my girls…”

The post went down a treat.

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CBB legend Kate Lawler wrote: “Love the energy of this girl gang.”

EastEnders icon Sam Womack said: “Jealous!!!! Love you lot.”

One fan added: “Love that they’ve grown up in the industry together and remained friends. Bet their WhatsApp chats are juicy!”

Holly has been lying low since her time on Netflix‘s Celebrity Bear Hunt early last year.

She’s been absent from TV screens for the longest period in her career, having previously been an ever present on This Morning, Celebrity Juice and Dancing on Ice.

But the mum-of-three, who is married to TV producer Dan Baldwin, is now branching out from traditional TV and is preparing a comeback on YouTube.

Her channel will start with a magazine show similar to This Morning – effectively marking the dawn of “Holly TV”.

Our insider explained: “Holly has been slowly shedding her This Morning self for a few years now and has been gradually letting the fans see the real her more and more.

“Once rarely posting on social media, Holly will now happily share her outfits, favourite tipples and days out with her very cool group of pals.

“When she was on This Morning her friendship with the likes of the Appleton sisters was kept on the down-low but now there’s no need for her to live up to a certain image.

“She has always been a party girl at heart, but kept it very well hidden while on the daytime TV show.”

Since stepping back from the box, Holly has posted edgier content on social media, including an out of character F-bomb.

When American hip hop group Salt-N-Pepa announced they would be performing in the UK, a delighted Holly squealed online: “Excuse my language but f**k, I’ve waited my whole life for this.”

The insider continued: “Holly would never have sworn online while she was on This Morning but is deliberately showing a different side to herself. She wants to be seen as cool and edgy.

“She was definitely keeping up appearances while on the show and can now finally be herself fully.”

Though the former kids TV presenter has maintained a clean cut image, her party girl image has long been talked about in media circles.

In 2019 she partied until the early hours at The Streets’ comeback gig afterparty at Brixton Academy with Nicole Appleton, wearing a T-shirt that read: “Good girls go to heaven, bad girls go backstage”.

Her legendary drinking stamina has led to her being labelled a “robot” by pal Keith Lemon.

“Holly is a party animal. I’m a drinker, but I can’t keep up with her,” he told The Sun.

While Piers Morgan said: “Piers Morgan backed up his comments, admitting: “If I go to a party and Holly Willoughby is there, you know your liver is in for a caning, and you could end up in a career-ending situation. She’s a very dangerous lady. Very dangerous.”

Raducanu had a very promising debut clay court season in 2022 – the year after she won the US Open in New York as a teenager – but hurt her back in Madrid and had to retire from her first match in Rome a week later.

Much of 2023 was lost to the operations she had on her hands and left ankle. In 2024, Raducanu played very promisingly on indoor clay, winning two matches for Great Britain against France in the Billie Jean King Cup before reaching the quarter-finals in Stuttgart.

But that was followed by a heavy first-round defeat by qualifier Maria Lourdes Carle in Madrid.

Raducanu said she was “mentally and emotionally exhausted” and did not play on clay again that year, choosing to skip the French Open to prioritise a training block that she thought would benefit her fitness in the second half of the year.

She played four clay court events last year, with the highlight a run to the fourth round in Rome, but experienced further back issues in Strasbourg and after competing at Roland Garros.

Her next opportunity to play on clay will be at the Italian Open in Rome from 5 May. There are also two tournaments – in Strasbourg and Rabat – the week before the French Open, which rounds off the clay court swing.