Strictly Come Dancing presenter Josh Widdicombe has revealed he is going to make a change to his backstage routine on the BBC show, inspired by co-host Emma Willis
A member of the Strictly Come Dancing hosting team has spoken about a small change he’s planning to make now the chaos of the first half of the series is over, taking inspiration from one of his co-stars in the process.
Strictly switched up the presenting line-up for series 24, with Josh Widdicombe teaming up with Emma Willis, 50, and Johannes Radebe, 39, for this year’s series after the trio took over from the long-standing duo of Tess Daly, 57, and Claudia Winkleman, 54.
As with previous fresh line-ups on BBC shows, the new team have attracted their fair share of supporters and critics. Nevertheless, it has proved a considerable challenge for all involved, especially given how cherished Strictly is for fans young and old.
Despite this, it is a unique opportunity for any presenter, something comedian Josh acknowledged on episode 31 of season 13 of Parenting Hell with Rob Beckett and Josh Widdicombe, where the duo explore their family lives and professional ventures. Josh said he is going to make one small change, although not to his presenting style, but to how he behaves behind-the-scenes.
Specifically, he admitted, he will change how he enjoys the moment and makes memories. Alongside Strictly commitments, Josh continues to feature on Channel 4’s The Last Leg with fellow comedians Adam Hills and Alex Brooker.
During one segment of the podcast episode, recorded earlier this week, the pair began discussing their respective workloads and demanding schedules. Josh subsequently revealed both shows would occupy him until mid-to-late December, while Rob mentioned he wasn’t working between October 20 and November 9.
Yet it was when Rob, 40, enquired what Josh would prefer to do to unwind during his downtime that he identified two activities he would relish pursuing beyond work, parenting, and life admin: going for a run and taking photographs.
At this juncture, Rob suggested: “I think you should take photos of Strictly behind-the-scenes and all that kind of stuff. Not to put out now, but at some point.”
In reply, Josh indicated this was a shift he would contemplate making now that he’s settled into the position somewhat more, as Emma has been capturing numerous “good” photographs backstage. He continued: “Well, do you know what? I never take any photos.
“And Emma was always taking good photos. And I’m like, ‘I should be taking photos’….Now I’m calmer with the whole thing, I’m going to start doing it.”
Josh has faced criticism from audiences since joining Strictly, including regarding the incorporation of comedy sketches into the show.
This has provoked frustration from certain fans on social media platform X. One individual posted: “Stop trying to make every link funny! Especially when you involve the judges who fluff their lines.”
Another audience member protested: “They really, really need to cut these ‘comedy’ sketches from Strictly.”
Meanwhile Radio Times TV and podcast editor Caroline Frost has suggested that while the trio have developed as the series has unfolded, the journey hasn’t been entirely smooth.
She wrote: “I think it’s fair to say there were some bumps in the road in the first couple of episodes, but they do appear to be very slowly relaxing into their new roles.”
Earlier in the year, former Strictly pro Ola Jordan remarked that Josh had seemed “really nervous” on the programme, reports the Standard. Meanwhile, speaking to the Mirror, Strictly legend Vincent Simone compared Josh to a “lost lamb” before suggesting it could have been down to the nerves of the first show.
Josh has also hit back at the criticism levelled at him, discussing the first episode of the series in another episode of his and Rob’s podcast. During a part of the show, where Josh thanked Rob for a supportive Instagram post, he said: “You put up a lovely Instagram. Someone put like, ‘Did anyone find that everyone was just too happy on it?’ It’s Strictly!”
Rob responded: “They said, ‘It felt it was a bit too OTT and everyone was too happy like they were being paid to dance’. I’m like, ‘That’s exactly what’s happened’. I thought it was brilliant Josh, you should be really proud.”
Josh returns alongside Emma and Johannes to the UK’s screens tonight with Strictly Come Dancing starting at 6:40pm tonight (November 7) on BBC One.
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