Strictly's James Jordan calls on bosses to replace the presenters and judges as he calls out 'scripted and forced humour' in new format

James Jordan has blasted Strictly's new presenting format and has begged bosses to remove a presenter as he weighed into the controversy surrounding the BBC show.

Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe have received mixed reactions since they took over from Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. 

The trio have been testing out different presenting dynamics after viewers called Josh a 'spare part' alongside Emma, while Johannes hosted from the Clauditorium.

After switching the layout for last week's results show, viewers hailed the chemistry between Emma and Johannes as they presented together – and claimed Josh has finally 'found his natural home'.

However, former Strictly professional James, 48, is still not convinced.

In an interview with the Daily Mail, James insisted the hosting dynamic with three hosts 'doesn't work and is just too much'.

He said: 'Two [presenters] are enough. Why do you need three? I just don't really understand it. Emma's so good, she doesn't need two people to share her job with. She's doing less because she's got to share. 

'It's just confusing for me, It's just too much. Go back to two hosts on Strictly, not three.'

James added: 'I'm happy to give Johannes some time as he's been thrown in at the deep end and I'm sure he's super nervous each week and the more you do something the better you get at it naturally so let's see how it plays out. 

'Josh seems to be forcing some humour into the show and it almost seems too scripted.'

James competed on the Saturday night show for eight years between 2006 to 2013 – alongside his ex-wife Ola, 44, who left in 2015.  

While heat has been firmly on the new hosts, James argued the dynamic between judges Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke, Motsi Mabuse and Craig Revel Horwood also needs to be reevaluated.

'I think some of the judges need to be replaced,' he suggested. 'I find it all too predictable now what they're going to say each week because we know them all so well. 

'I really do feel that the judging panel needs a bit of a freshen up because I don't think it's working anymore.'

Speaking about the relationship between the new hosts and judges, James said: 'I'll probably get called bitter for this, but I love watching the show.

'I think the show is amazing, but I do feel that the dynamic between them just seems a little bit scripted and disjointed.'

James, however, did note the new hosts need to be given a 'little bit more time' before making permanent assumptions.

He said: 'They've stepped into massive shoes. Is it as good at the moment? No, definitely not. Do the three presenters work in my opinion at the moment? Definitely not. I find it all too much. 

'But I'm not going to make my full opinion until the end of the series because we have to give them time to bed in and get used to it and find their feet.

'They've been put in this position and, you know, we are directly comparing them to Tess and Claudia, which is maybe a little bit unfair. I think they're going to get better. But I can't make a full decision on that until, you know, the end of the show.'

He added: 'Tess and Claudia were absolutely amazing together, Bruce [Forsyth] and Tess were amazing together, I think that the hosts will get better.'

Read James's honest review of Strictly each week in his blog.