Emma Willis is one of the three new hosts of Strictly Come Dancing and the 2026 series starts in September.
The BBC dance competition, which sees celebrities and their professional dance partners take to the dancefloor each week, announced the new hosts earlier this year following the departure of long-time hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly.
If you’re not familiar with Willis and the work she’s done on various TV shows, here’s everything you need to know from her previous TV gigs to her famous husband and more.
When does Strictly Come Dancing start?
Strictly Come Dancing’s 2026 series is starting on Saturday, September 19 and fans can watch along on BBC One or iPlayer.
The first episode is the launch show and it begins at 7.25pm.
Viewers can expect the launch show to be different this year as the celebrities find out who they will dance with during the episode, rather than weeks before like usual.
Who is Emma Willis?
Emma Willis, 50, is a popular TV presenter who has fronted shows such as The Voice UK, Emma Willis: Delivering Babies, The Circle, Cooking With The Stars and more.
She hosts Love Is Blind UK with her husband Matt Willis, a musician from Busted.
The couple got married in 2008 and have three children together: Isabelle (17), Ace (14) and Trixie (10).
What role will Emma Willis have on Strictly Come Dancing this year?
Willis will be one of three Strictly hosts this year.
Usually, the BBC show has two hosts, but this time there will be more, with Emma joining comedian Josh Widdicombe and Strictly professional dancer Johannes Radebe.
It’s unclear how the hosts will split their screen time on the show but previously Tess Daly spoke to dancers as they came off the dancefloor and stood with them while they received feedback from the judges, while Claudia Winkleman waited for them upstairs for some reaction and to join the rest of the dancers.
For all things Strictly, read our article here - Latest Strictly Come Dancing updates including start date, new hosts, lineup and more
Does Emma Willis have any Strictly links?
In February, Emma spoke to BBC Midlands and said she has wanted to be a contestant on the show “multiple times” but was never able to.
She said she’s “a huge Strictly fan” but that back then she was only rumoured to be the next host along with several other celebrities.
She said: “I am just one of many that are rumoured.
How much do you know about Strictly Come Dancing?
“I absolutely do not have that job.
“I don’t have that job. I have not been offered it, no.”
But she seemed keen for the role, adding: “I don’t think there’s anybody in the country that would say no to it.”
Emma is also a BBC Radio 2 host and she announced the new Strictly It Takes Two host on her show recently.
Ellie Taylor, who appeared as a contestant on the 2022 series of Strictly, will host the spin-off show.
Let us know what you think about the new Strictly hosts in the comments below.
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