It's Strictly Glum Dancing: Show's new presenting trio aren't exactly putting on the glitz like Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman

Since its launch in 2004, Strictly Come Dancing has been famed for its sparkle and glitz.

But a promotional photograph for the next series released by the BBC yesterday shows the new presenting team displaying little of their predecessors' razzle-dazzle.

While Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman were known for their colourful outfits and on-screen vim, the new presenters – Emma Willis, Johannes Radebe and Josh Widdicombe – pose statically in muted colours.

Ms Willis, 50, is dressed in a gold party frock with her hair gelled back, while Radebe, 39, still looks more like a professional ballroom dance than a host. 

Meanwhile some wags suggested Widdicombe, the comedian who co-presents Channel 4's The Last Leg, looks as if he's auditioning for a role in a Harry Potter movie.

One show insider told The Mail on Sunday: 'Strictly hasn't aired yet, but there are fears that it isn't going to be the golden Saturday night show that its audience is used to. 

'There are genuine fears that Emma and her gang won't strike the chord expected by the public, who love the sparkle of the show.'

The next series is set to begin on September 19, amid criticism of its relatively obscure collection of celebrity contestants including sports YouTuber John Nellis, Love Island's Cach Mercer and Kim Kardashian's hairdresser, Chris Appleton.

There has been a long-running joke within BBC towers that, in recent weeks, staff have been frantically hitting Google like never before.

Not to research world news, or check the weather forecast – but to find out who on earth the celebrities are in the new Strictly cohort.

For some, the list of names has left them bewildered. While in previous years a handful of the star contestants may not have been instantly recognisable household names, most of them were. 

Certain members of the corporation’s higher echelons are panicking that the high-stakes experiment to attract new viewers to the much-maligned show may backfire.