IN less than three months, that Glitterball will be hoisted and the dancefloor polished for a new-look Strictly.
And Emma Willis, alongside co-hosts Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe, will be following in the presenting footsteps of Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, who were a double act at the helm since 2014.
Emma has revealed for the first time that she has the blessing of Tess and Claudia after landing the plum job.
She said during the Attitude Pride Awards at the Chancery Rosewood hotel in London yesterday: “We’ve had a little back and forth, yes, and they were lovely.
“They just said, ‘Congrats, well done, you’ll smash it.’ And I was like, ‘S**t!’”
As to whether they offered advice, Emma, wearing a pinstripe black two-piece outfit, said: “No tips. Just lots of kind words.”
Revealing what viewers can expect from the new series, she added: “We will bring fun and joy — and that’s what the show is.
“It’s a big celebration of life and individuality. Hopefully we will continue to do it justice.”
Australian singer Delta Goodrem, who performed at the awards bash, will compete on Strictly alongside EastEnders’ Lacey Turner and celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton.
On how vital diversity is in the line-up, Emma added: “It’s super, super important that we have full representation on screen.
“I think Strictly do it brilliantly.”
Mark Gatiss, Denise Welch, Russell T. Davies, Dame Kelly Holmes and X Factor winner Matt Terry were among guests at the ceremony in Mayfair, where girl group Flo presented one of the Attitude Pride Awards to singer and Traitors star Cat Burns. Talking on the red carpet, Flo discussed their upcoming album Therapy At The Club, and their biggest influence for the record.
Jorja Douglas, who is in the group with Stella Quaresma and Renee Downer, said: “Definitely The Pussycat Dolls musically.
“We wanted to tap into that mel- odic, high-energy, R&B/pop crossover, which they did really well.”
But Flo also like the idea of collaborating with a very different artist, their pal Olivia Dean.
Asked about the prospect, Renee said: “We would love to but I don’t know if we are on her level.”
But Jorja, who headed to Ibiza with the group last night to see Olivia, added: “Between ourselves, we have the song and we might see her this weekend so it would be great to chat about music.”
Watch this space.
JORJA & P2J THE ODDS COUPLE
JORJA SMITH has revealed her third album was born out of late-night recording sessions with her long-time collaborator P2J.
The Midlands singer, who will release What Are The Odds on August 21, told me: “There was never a big plan, it was just me making music that felt right in the moment.
“Working with P2J, we started experimenting with different sounds, pulling from UK garage, grime, house, funky house, Afro house, and it all grew from there.
“The music feels uplifting but the lyrics can be a bit sad at times. They’re about growing up, love, loss, friendships and figuring things out as I go.
“I trusted my instincts with this one and I think you can hear that throughout the record.”
Jorja yesterday released Alive, the first single from the album, featuring Wizkid and said he was a dream to work with.
She explained: “Making this with P2J and Wizkid felt really easy. We wrote and recorded it in London.
“I think we captured that feeling when you’re at the beginning of something with someone and everything feels exciting.
“I’ve always loved Wizkid’s music and the way he’s opened so many doors for Afrobeats around the world, so it feels really special and a big honour to have a song with him. ”
SISTRA GET BALLZY ON THE BOOZE
SISTRA plan to give tomorrow’s British Summer Time performance an extra buzz – with a pre-show tipple for Dutch courage.
Sisters Sasha and Sylvie Briggs will sink a cheeky Buzzballz cocktail ahead of their set for a crowd of 70,000 at BST Hyde Park, as they support Duran Duran.
They told Bizarre’s Jack: “We love a preshow gin and slimline tonic. We could add a Buzzballz to the mix.
“Looking out into the crowd gives you the energy.”
The girls released their debut album, She Won’t Let Go, in May and are back in the studio after being championed by talent initiative Amex Unsigned.
They told us: “We love being independent artists and having the freedom to release the music we want.”
MADGE SUCH A LEG-END
MADONNA made guests walk through giant inflatable legs as she welcomed them to her Confessions II album launch party.
Kate Moss, Joe Locke and Jessie Ware were among the celebrities in the crowd at packed club Magazine in East London on Thursday night.
Also on the guest list was Ashley Roberts, who took inspiration from Madge’s 2006 Grammys bodice-style outfit.
Our Howell and Jack were there as Madonna joined her producer Stuart Price on stage just after midnight.
She danced for 30 minutes and it was clear she was having a good time.
Madonna shouted on the microphone: “We’re about to give you love, come to the promised land.
“Thank you for coming. Be whoever you want to be.”
The record shot to No1 on iTunes yesterday and her daughter Lourdes Leon talked during a TikTok Live about how emotional it was for them to write and record their collaboration The Test.
She said: “It was my idea. I felt that between a mother and a daughter in a relationship, there are a lot of things that are unspoken.”
Madonna added: “It was very emotional.
“There were moments in the writing process when we were in the studio where I felt like crying, hugging her.”
Lourdes interrupted: “I cried.”
And Madonna said: “We don’t always agree on things but we love creativity and art has always connected us.”
KYLIE MINOGUE gave Snow Patrol fans a surprise last night after coming out on stage in Crystal Palace Park, London.
Kylie joined them for their new track These Alarms.
Frontman Gary Lightbody said: “As a huge Kylie fan I originally wrote These Alarms with her in mind.”
