Strictly Come Dancing Hosts Kept Secret with Absurd ‘Gardening Show’ Ruse

Strictly hosts Johannes Radebe, Josh Widdicombe, and Emma Willis reveal how BBC kept their identities hidden with a fake gardening show.

Editorial Desk

September 10, 2026 One Min Read

POLICY WIRE — London, United Kingdom — Johannes Radebe, Josh Widdicombe, and Emma Willis have revealed the unusual measures the BBC took to keep their identities as new Strictly Come Dancing hosts hidden during auditions.

The trio, who are set to replace Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman for the show’s 24th season, were told to pretend they were auditioning for a fictional TV program called The Great Garden Glow Up. This elaborate deception included being driven to studio locations without knowing the actual purpose of their visit.

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During the process, each host was individually taken to a mock studio setup with production crew acting as judges. Widdicombe joked about the absurdity of the situation, noting that he felt like he was attending a chemistry test for a show he wouldn’t have otherwise considered. The launch episode of the series is scheduled for 19 September, with the first live show on 26 September.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)

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