Fans may still be getting their heads around the unexpected new presenting line-up, but one woman is thrilled by the announcement.Sarah Morton18:32, 20 May 2026Updated 18:35, 20 May 2026Shirley Ballas, who has been a judge on Strictly Come Dancing for nearly a decade, believes viewers are going to witness a 'masterclass' in how to change up a format and says she couldn't be more excited for the arrival of Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe.‌"I think it's absolutely brilliant what the BBC have done," she tells us exclusively. "Of course, I've worked with Emma on and she's an absolute star. She's very calm, so beautiful, she keeps everything together. And there's only one Johannes in the whole world. I mean, who wouldn't want him somewhere in that trio?‌"And I'm not that familiar with Josh, but I met him this week after Good Morning Britain and I've since looked at some of his work.. I think it's going to be fresh and interesting."‌READ MORE: Strictly Come Dancing's next shake up as 5 new pro stars join show after shock exitsREAD MORE: Josh Widdicombe named new Strictly host and there's genius reason behind bookingFans have taken to voicing their opinions online, with some expressing bemusement over Josh getting the gig. The stand-up comic beat the likes of Rylan Clark to the job, previously held by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, who left at the end of the last series."Bizarre choice," wrote one viewer, while another said, "I can't believe the Josh Widdicombe thing wasn't a joke." But while Shirley, 65, acknowledges it's a surprise, she reveals the real reason bosses hired the comedian.‌"Well, apparently the chemistry between Josh and Emma was off the charts." she says. "So I believe that was the case. They had chemistry beyond chemistry, so I do trust the process and the producers. They took their time, they didn't rush this decision. I know people are judging before they've even seen the results, but for me, this is a dream team."Emma, 50, Johannes, 39, and Josh, 43, also had chemistry tests with the judging panel, including Anton DuBeke, Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse, which went well."I couldn't do it because I was in Australia with my son," said Shirley. "But we're excited. Of course we'll miss Tess and Claudia, they're personal friends of mine, but everything has to turn around.‌"There will come a point - which I'll take with grace and charm - when someone will replace me, but it is what it is. It's a family show and this will be a masterclass in changing things around. They couldn't have picked a better trio. And of course we have new professional dancers coming on board which is exciting."‌Indeed, Shirley revealed that five new dancers have been recruited, to replace fan favourites such as Karen Hauer and Michelle Tsiakkas, who were controversially axed ahead of the new series. "Some of them are very young, but they're very experienced," she says of the newbies. "They're going to be fantastic."And Shirley has high hopes for the future of the previous dancers too. "All the professionals, past and present, are really brilliant, and I hope that some of them are going to come into my industry." she says.""I hope to see Michelle and Karen judging and putting their talents forward, because there is life beyond Strictly as a dancer. If you are qualified and you know what you're doing, you'll go on to great things".‌For Shirley, the ballroom has been her life's greatest passion and she's in no hurry to hang up her dancing shoes, despite heartbreaking warnings from her doctor that she might have to. She suffers from a degenerative spine condition that leaves her in constant pain and she's been putting off getting surgery."They'd like to do a back operation on me but I'm still dancing," she says. "If they do the operation, it'll be a fusion op and I won't be able to move my spine as a result. So I'm getting by on paracetamol. Not all the time, so some days I'm ok, but some days I'm really stiff and sore. If I do my yoga, if I eat correctly, if I keep myself a little bit more in shape, I find it easy."However, Shirley admits the situation is a ticking timebomb. "I asked the doctor, 'when do you think I'll need this?' And he said, 'You'll come to me when you need this, Shirley, because you'll have bladder issues and all sorts'. They scare you to death." she says.‌"But as of right now I'm not going to do anything like that to my back. It's scary to think I might not dance. I've seen so many specialists across the board, but right now I seem to be doing ok, so I'm going to leave it. Touch wood."Keeping on top of her health is an important topic for Shirley, so much so that she's currently fronting the One Step Ahead campaign, for Abbott's FreeStyle Libre, to promote the importance of being tech confident. It comes as it's revealed that only 18% of UK adults feel confident using health technology, including apps."I had missed breast biopsies and other results," she recalls. "I was trying desperately to reach the right people because I hadn't heard from the NHS and then I realised all the results and appointments and information had gone to the app. I thought...let's stay curious and open to technology because it's all changing, all the time."Article continues belowLuckily for Shirley, she's now on top of her health apps. When it comes to dating apps, however, that's a different story. The star ended her engagement to toyboy Danny Taylor in November 2024 and since then has decided to stay tight-lipped about any potential romance."I have some friends.." she says, before trailing off, blushing. "I'm getting all nervous now! Listen, I do share time with somebody that I'm fond of, but I'm keeping it private this time. If I was to find somebody, I certainly wouldn't share it, because I find that we're in a judging world now, where no matter what you do, it's never the right thing. Danny was terrorised when I was with him, because of our 13 year age gap."That said, it's clear whoever it is she's 'fond of', they're worth it. "No tags, no labels," she insists. "Just a nice dinner, a chat on an intellectual basis with somebody who's interested in the campaign, someone I can share things with and talk to, someone who gets it and gets me. And that's all I'm saying on that!"