What Strictly pros REALLY think of its new stars as Brendan Cole slams lack of ‘class’… & moles spill on backstage split

The BBC hoped its biggest Strictly overhaul in decades would breathe fresh life into the ballroom. But before a single celebrity has even stepped onto the dancefloor, the revamp has already split the Strictly family. Now, in an exclusive chat – ahead of his 2026 The Legends in Vegas: After Hours UK tour – original pro Brendan Cole gives his brutally honest verdict on the new presenting trio – as insiders reveal what current and former professionals are really saying behind the scenes. Original Strictly Pro Brendan Cole says the BBC have ‘missed a trick’ with its biggest ballroom overhaul in decades Credit: Rex Emma, Josh and Johannes are leading Strictly into a new era – but not everyone behind the scenes is convinced Credit: PA Following the departures of Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman after Tess spent more than two decades at the helm, BBC bosses promised viewers a fresh chapter for the flagship entertainment show. Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe have now been handed the reins in the biggest on-screen shake-up since Sir Bruce Forsyth stepped away from the ballroom. Current and former professionals have publicly welcomed the new trio, but we can reveal opinion among the Strictly family is much more divided beneath the surface. Everyone agrees the show needed refreshing after 22 years. The question amongst stars is whether producers have been bold enough. Some believe the revamp represents exactly the shot in the arm Strictly needed, while others think the BBC missed a once-in-a-generation opportunity to bring in a genuine entertainment heavyweight. Few people know the inner workings of Strictly better than Brendan Cole. As one of Strictly’s original professionals, Brendan helped build the BBC juggernaut from its earliest days, spending 15 years in the ballroom before leaving in 2018. His outspoken opinions have often divided fans over the years – but his views continue to carry enormous weight among the ballroom fraternity. And speaking to The Sun, he admitted bosses may have missed a golden opportunity. He said: “Personally, I wouldn’t have made it that. I think it needs to be somebody… I think it needed class. “I think it needed the Bruce Forsyth of old back at the helm, and somebody that’s proper showbiz sort of legend, if you like, in terms of being able to sing, most importantly able to dance and act – a triple-threat kind of status in terms of holding the show.” Brendan believes Bruce’s biggest strength was in that he commanded the programme. “When Bruce used to come out, the host got attention because he was the one that commanded the respect because of his 50 years of being this incredible entertainer. “I think it needed to go back to that. It could have been anybody from anywhere. Even to the point where I said Anton would probably make a great host in terms of his being on the show since day one. “For me, it needed that, but they didn’t go for that.” Brendan’s frustration centres on what he sees as a missed opportunity. In his eyes, the BBC had the chance to completely reinvent the show’s frontman – instead opting for something that still feels comfortingly familiar. While Brendan stopped short of criticising the new appointments themselves, he questioned whether bosses had truly delivered the fresh start they promised. “They’ve gone for Emma, and I think Emma is a great presenter. I rate her very highly, always have, so I think she’ll be great. “The comedy value from Josh – I like Josh as a host, I love him as a fellow, and I think he’s a great comedian. But I feel like they’ve just done like for like. “Emma is quite a stern presenter. She’s in control, and she knows exactly what she’s doing at every moment. I feel like they’ve replaced Tess with another Tess, although Emma is her own person. “Claudia’s comedy is brilliant, her timing is brilliant, and they’ve done the same thing with that. OK, give it to a comedian, Josh. For me, the jury is out.” One appointment, however, remains the biggest mystery of all. Like many viewers, Brendan admits he’s fascinated to see exactly where Strictly’s own Johannes fits into the new format. While Emma and Josh’s responsibilities appear relatively obvious, the professional dancer’s role remains something of an unknown. Bruce remains the gold standard for many former pros, with Brendan insisting the show still needs a host of his stature Credit: BBC After more than 20 years fronting Strictly together, Tess and Claudia’s departures have ushered in the show’s biggest presenting shake-up Credit: Handout “Obviously, I don’t know what their intention is with Johannes. I have no idea if he’s going to be walking around talking to the couples, if he’s going to talk to them backstage, if there’s a pre-show thing or a later thing. I have no idea what the thinking is there.” Strip away the names, the format changes and the fresh faces, and Brendan believes the BBC’s biggest challenge remains exactly the same. “There are three of them and not one of them is Bruce. We’ve all got a personal opinion. I’ve invested a lot of time and energy into the show over many years, so we’ve all got our wants and needs as to what the show should do, but we’re not in charge of it. “So we shall watch and listen and hope that it all stays the success that it has been.” Brendan’s comments echo what many within the Strictly world have privately been saying since the new presenting team was unveiled. The Sun has spoken to industry moles, who have revealed that while almost everyone agrees the show needed refreshing, there’s much less consensus over whether bosses have actually been brave enough. One insider said: “Opinion among both the current and former pros on the new format is very mixed. “Naturally, the ex-pros have much more freedom to speak openly about how they feel. Everyone agreed the show needed shaking up, so there’s a general feeling that changes were necessary, but there’s also chatter that some of the choices could have been stronger. “They would have loved to see an iconic figure with real flair, a professional dance background and worldwide recognition. The new line-up brings some of those qualities between them, but some feel it would have been better to have all of those attributes in one person. “They were promised a fresh new format, but to some it still feels like a variation on the Tess and Claudia dynamic.” Brendan isn’t the only former pro who thinks BBC bosses missed a trick. James Jordan also questioned whether producers should have looked to one of Britain’s established Saturday-night entertainers instead. Like Brendan, he admitted he would personally have opted for a more traditional television heavyweight. James previously said: “I would have preferred someone like Bradley Walsh or Vernon Kay, or someone like that, because they’re tried and tested. “But at the same time, sometimes you’ve got to take risks, and I’m not going to say it’s not good, because I haven’t seen it until I see it.” Though the dancer also backed Emma’s appointment, describing her as an “amazing” choice. Vincent Simone has also confessed his initial concern was actually for the ballroom itself. James Jordan backed Emma Willis but admitted he’d have preferred a more traditional Saturday night heavyweight alongside her Credit: Getty – Contributor Though the former pros aren’t all in agreement – Nadiya believes Johannes authenticity makes him a natural fit for the role Credit: Shutterstock Editorial His first reaction to Johannes leaving the professional line-up was disappointment that viewers might lose one of the show’s most popular dancers. “I was surprised about Johannes because audiences love him as a dancer,” Vincent admitted. “My first reaction was, ‘Oh no, that means we won’t see him as a professional dancer anymore.’ So I didn’t expect them to take him off the dance floor yet.” Not everyone, however, is approaching the new era with caution. Others are excited about the fresh setup, and see Johannes as the appointment that could ultimately make the whole revamp work. Current champion Dianne Buswell was among the first to celebrate the announcement, reserving particular praise for her fellow professional Johannes. She wrote under the announcement: “This is so exciting. Particularly excited for our fellow pro @johannesradebe babe you are a true star and this role is made for you, we love you.” The reigning Glitterball winner later added: “It’s absolutely terrific news @emmawillisofficial @josh_widdicombe welcome to the fam, @johannesradebe sista you look fab!” Former pro Nadiya Bychkova was equally positive, predicting the trio would inject fresh energy into the ballroom. She said: “It’s lovely to see Johannes stepping into such a big role. I think audiences connect with him because he brings warmth, authenticity…” Even Vincent, after giving it more thought, concluded Johannes’ warmth and popularity made him a natural fit. “Johannes knows all the pros; he knows the environment, and he comes across as such a lovely person, so I think it’s good to have a professional involved in presenting the show.” Whether viewers ultimately embrace the biggest overhaul in Strictly history remains to be seen. The glitterball hasn’t even started spinning yet – and already, the ballroom is divided. Brendan Cole was speaking ahead of the 2026 The Legends in Vegas: After Hours UK tour, which also stars fellow former Strictly Come Dancing professionals James Jordan, Pasha Kovalev, Vincent Simone and Ian Waite. The tour opens on Saturday 3 October 2026 at Fareham Live before travelling across the UK.