Johannes Radebe, one of the three new presenters of Strictly Come Dancing, shared how he and his co-hosts, Emma Willis and Josh Widdicombe, found out they had been chosen for the role. Radebe was at home rehearsing for a performance of the West End musical Kinky Boots when he received the call. Willis was at the hairdressers, with her head in the sink, when she got the news, and Widdicombe was in a graveyard in Birmingham on tour, choosing a quiet spot to take the call. The three were invited to a Zoom call by the BBC, but they were unsure whether it was good or bad news. They were asked to keep the information secret for two weeks and created a WhatsApp group named "OMG" to discuss it. The selection process for the new hosts was secretive, involving surprise auditions and confidential screen tests. To keep things under wraps, the BBC even created a fake show called The Great Garden Glow Up to distract people from the real news. The auditions were held at a location designed to resemble Elstree Studios, a well-known television production site. The trio had to participate in chemistry tests with various people. Willis had a chemistry test with Jojo Sutherland, and the pair almost ended up as contestants on the show together. The decision to have three presenters instead of the traditional two was unexpected, as the producers hadn’t considered it before. Radebe, who will be the first Black presenter of the main show, expressed pride in being a trailblazer and emphasized the importance of inclusivity on the show. Widdicombe noted that the trio would not have fixed positions on the set and stressed the need to keep the show's core elements intact. The new hosts have been preparing for the upcoming series, including a large group dance to open the series. They are excited about the new format, which includes live pairings of celebrities and professionals, as well as plans to participate in fancy dress for theme weeks. The new hosts are aware that they will be under close scrutiny and are committed to preserving the show’s traditions while adding their unique touch. They are looking forward to the return of Strictly Come Dancing on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Saturday, 19 September.