Strictly's Motsi Mabuse urges fans to appreciate the show's 'imperfectly human' new presenting line-up and says AI could replace them one day - after Josh Widdicombe was branded a 'spare part'

Strictly's Motsi Mabuse has urged fans to appreciate the show's 'imperfectly human' new presenting line-up and said AI could replace them one day.

Things got off to a shaky start on Saturday's first live show, with new presenting trio Josh, Emma Willis and Johannes Radebe taking over from Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman this year.

Comedian Josh, 43, was presenting from the dancefloor with Emma, 50, as Tess did previously, while Johannes interviewed the stars from the auditorium like Claudia.

However, the decision didn't go down well with viewers, who remarked that Josh looked like a 'spare part' next to seasoned professional Emma, before noticing that he missed his cue twice during the show. 

Now, Motsi, who has been on the judging panel since 2019, has urged fans to be kinder to the new presenting trio.

Taking to Threads, she said: 'While people type away, tearing apart real human beings on television, real emotions!!!!!!!

'AI is getting better at replacing them. One day we might not even know the difference. 

'And maybe then we'll miss the days when television was still beautifully, imperfectly human.'

Motsi is on the judging panel alongside Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood and Anton Du Beke.

It comes after Motsi made a very cheeky remark to Josh during the first live show as Paralympian Dame Sarah Storey, 48, and her pro partner Julian Caillon were getting their feedback.

After Craig Revel Horwood gave his rather cutting feedback, Motsi turned to him to say that she actually agreed with what he was saying for once, which led to Craig quipping: 'Great - we can move on to Shirley [Ballas] then!'

Motsi burst out laughing before then replying: 'Well I have to do my job too!'

Josh then jokingly shouted: 'Shirley!' as if to skip over Motsi's feedback like Craig had suggested.

Motsi then cheekily remarked to Josh: 'Well are we going to be friends or enemies, you choose now!' as the audience and Josh laughed it off.

Reacting to the moment on X, one viewer said: 'Josh feared for his P45 in Week 1. Motsi ate him up.'

Emma, Josh and Johannes have received mixed reactions since they took over from Tess and Claudia, who departed the BBC show at the end of the 2025 series.

No doubt with a lot on her mind, Emma joked she was feeling 'nervous' about the live aspect of the show before introducing the judges and contestants to the stage.

And after it was revealed Josh and Emma would present together on the dancefloor Josh was branded a 'spare part' by some.

He did, however, earn some praise for making a 'change partners' joke, in a playful throwback to the new musical chairs-style format used to announce the pairs in the launch show.

As Josh stood on the dancefloor looking bemused, Emma, Johannes and judge Craig appeared alongside him, while Josh wailed 'change partners', leaving viewers in hysterics.

Many reacted to the new trio on X as they wrote: 'I'm not going to be one of the people hating on Josh. For me the problem is that three hosts just aren't needed. He's just standing there awkwardly next to Emma without much to do. Josh should've been up where Johannes is and Johannes should be dancing imo.',

'ngl, i'm not a fan of this hosts setup. i'd switch jojo and josh around, why book a comedian and not put him causing chaos and fun in the clauditorium (or whatever we call it these days) #Strictly.',

'Ok. I still don't feel it. It might have fared better if it was just Josh upstairs and Emma on her own. I feel that dynamic would've had more flow. What's everyone else thinking??.',

'Everyone is being quite hard on Josh but he's really not the problem. He should be up in the Clauditorium to crack jokes with the contestants. Emma is fantastic and such a natural so she should be on her own on the main floor. Three hosts are too much.'

No one will be leaving the show this week, with the scores from week one combined with next week's before the first elimination next Sunday.