Overview
- The new presenting trio fronted the first live show, with Emma Willis and Josh Widdicombe at the judges’ table and Johannes Radebe conducting balcony interviews, in the live debut that aired on Saturday.
- Audience and social media reaction was mixed and often nervous, focusing on several moments where Widdicombe missed cues and was described by viewers as seeming redundant next to Willis.
- Widdicombe has limited his social media use, reshared supportive posts from colleagues and told listeners on his podcast that he has 'pulled the drawbridge up' on online commentary.
- Overnight figures show the programme remained the most‑watched show of the night with a peak of around five million viewers but registered a lower average (about 4.8 million) than recent first live shows, a result producers said will be seen alongside on‑demand viewing.
- Ellie Taylor’s well‑received debut on the spin‑off It Takes Two has fueled calls from viewers for presenting changes and commentators have suggested swapping or reworking the trio’s roles as producers continue to trial the format after last year’s host departures and welfare reforms.