Josh Widdicombe, the newly announced co-host of Strictly Come Dancing, has disclosed that he nearly turned down the prestigious role due to concerns about how it would alter his everyday life. The comedian, known for his work on The Last Leg and Taskmaster, will join Emma Willis and Johannes Radebe as one of three new presenters for the beloved BBC dance competition.
Initial Hesitations
Speaking on his podcast Parenting Hell with Rob Beckett and Josh Widdicombe, Widdicombe opened up about his initial reservations. “I think this is a fair thing to say. Obviously when this opportunity came up initially to just have the meeting, I thought I really liked my life,” he told co-host Rob Beckett. “Would I want to throw it into flux? Do you know what I mean? Because it’s a big fit. It’s a defining thing that you’re suddenly doing. But I just thought, what an incredible thing to experience.”
Beckett, however, was quick to reassure his friend, praising his suitability for the role. “Josh, you’re perfect for it. Your kids are an age that they adore it. You’re going to be so good at it because you’ve done what, 12 years of live TV. You don’t understand how accustomed and professional you are in that kind of pressure where it’s very overwhelming,” Beckett said. He added, “You’ve already got that under your belt. You know how to be funny in short snippets around a big sort of structured show. You’re perfect for the job. You’re going to be brilliant at it. And you can build your life around it now.”
Previous Strictly Experience
Widdicombe is no stranger to the Strictly ballroom, having participated in the 2024 Christmas special with professional dancer Karen Hauer. At the time, he expressed terror at the prospect of humiliating himself on national television, saying, “I am utterly terrified this will end in humiliation and worried I’m going to be so bad I will ruin Christmas for the nation. Why have I done this?” Despite those fears, he now looks back fondly on the experience, calling it his career high point.
In a statement following the announcement, Widdicombe said, “Dancing the Charleston dressed as a penguin for the 2024 Christmas Special of Strictly remains my career high point, so I am giddy with excitement, honoured and a little overawed to be given the chance to step into the biggest shoes in television. I adore Emma and Jojo and can’t wait to spend my weekends with them. I’ll dust off the penguin costume.”
New Era for Strictly
The trio of Widdicombe, Willis, and Radebe will take over hosting duties following the departure of Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly, who stepped down last year. While some fans have expressed skepticism about Widdicombe’s fit—given his background in comedy rather than traditional presenting—others are optimistic about the fresh energy he brings. Willis has previously hosted Big Brother and The Voice UK, while Radebe is a former Strictly professional dancer.
Strictly Come Dancing is set to return later this year on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. The show’s new lineup promises to bring a dynamic shift to the beloved series, with Widdicombe’s humor and live TV experience expected to shine.
