TV insiders have decided Emma Willis will be the saviour of Strictly, as it's reported the presenter has sailed through auditions to land the most coveted job in telly.
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Strictly Bets on Emma Willis to Save Show
TV insiders have decided Emma Willis will be the saviour of Strictly, as it's reported the presenter has sailed through auditions to land the most coveted job i...
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An announcement on the new hosts of the flagship show is expecting any day, on the back of months of relentless speculation about , 54, and 's, 57, replacements.
This week. frontrunner broke the news that she had lost out on the job, admitting that she is 'working through the seven stages of grief and rejection'.
Such candour from celeb candidates is rare and proves the lustre of the role. But according to insiders, bosses are now pinning all their hopes on one woman.
A producer who worked on a reality show with Emma, 50, a few years ago has insisted: 'If anyone can turn things around for Strictly, it's her.'
'There's something she has on screen, a mix of vulnerability and confidence, that everyone just falls in love with.'
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TV insiders have decided Emma Willis will be the saviour of Strictly, as it's reported the presenter has sailed through auditions to land the most coveted job in telly
Emma is thought to have impressed during the chemistry tests and auditions which have taken place in recent weeks.
She is well versed in Saturday night telly having raised viewing figures on The Voice UK by two million when she took over from Holly Willoughby in 2014.
She's also honed her live presenting skills on reality telly juggernaut Big Brother and via her stand-in stints on This Morning.
'She is one of the most determined professionals I've ever worked with,' the producer told The Telegraph. 'If you look at her track record, you'll see what I mean.'
'This won't be the first show she's joined when things were looking shaky and she's always worked some magic.'
Crucially, she appeals to the younger demographic which Strictly has been desperate to tap into for years.
She boasts two million Instagram followers, thanks in part to her roles on the likes of Netflix's Love Is Blind UK, which generates huge engagement numbers on social media.
On her own account Emma shares regular updates on life with her Busted star husband Matt, 43, and their three kids, alongside collaborations with major names such as Marks & Spencer.
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Crucially, Emma appeals to the younger demographic which Strictly has been desperate to tap into. She boasts 2m Instagram followers thanks to her posts about life with husband Matt Willis
That Insta follower count was no doubt a big tick box for BBC bosses, who are already reported to have decided which professional dancers to cull based on their social media presence.
Offline, Emma is well liked by her industry peers as demonstrated by the sheer number of TV talent present at her recent 50th birthday party, a raucous bash held at a Grade II listed former courthouse in March.
Rylan Clark, Emma's long-time pal and co-presenter on This Morning is surely a natural choice for her co-presenter on Strictly
The disappointed star did tease though 'I tell you what, if [it's] who I think has got it, we're in safe hands and our new hosts are going to be fabulous. I'm so thrilled for them, and hopefully at a later date we'll be able to talk about them in more detail.'
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Zoe wasn't the only star who shed tears after being rejected from the Strictly gig, according to The Sun.
A source said: 'The television industry is cut-throat. From the off, the BBC had their favourites but they knew they couldn’t just shoe-horn in who they wanted — it had to come down to the chemistry tests. The celebs were put into mix-and-match pairs.
'The people who didn’t get offered the job just weren’t the right fit.
'Some have taken it better than others. One big star who was tipped from day one has been sobbing about it — they were convinced the job was theirs for the taking.
'They genuinely thought they’d the best chance but when it came down to what it felt like on screen, it didn’t work. Sadly, that’s the nature of the business and no amount of soggy Kleenexes will change the decision.'
This week. frontrunner Zoe Ball broke the news that she had lost out on the job, admitting that she is 'working through the seven stages of grief and rejection'
Last week Strictly bosses confirmed the professional dancers that will be returning for the new series, after a string of stars were axed in a brutal cast cull.
In recent months , , 43, Michelle Tsiakkas, 30, , 36, and Gorka Marquez, 35, have all been given the boot.
The pro dancer bloodbath follows two rocky series for the show, beginning when actress accused dance partner, , of being 'abusive' during their rehearsals. Allegations he denies.
The same year, was sacked by the after a video emerged of him kicking dance partner, the Love Island star during a rehearsal.
Later Welsh opera singer, , was axed from his BBC Wales breakfast show after using 'inappropriate language' during his Strictly stint. Before was axed from after his vile slur during the competition.
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