Josh Widdicombe is an anxious everyman. His brand of comedy revels in the awkwardness of being a millennial bloke. In mundane frustrations, dry observations on ordinary life, self-deprecating rants and millennial nostalgia. It is relatable stuff – the quirks and irks of being British – but it is not what I associate with Strictly Come Dancing.
And yet today, the BBC confirmed its new hosting line-up of Emma Willis, Widdicombe, and beloved professional dancer Johannes Radebe. Willis – a seasoned live TV pro – will be the new Tess, Radebe will be in a new “roving reporter” role, and Widdicombe has the unenviable job of replacing Claudia Winkleman, whose duties primarily were to be weird and warm, chat to the celebs in the “Clauditorium” as the adrenaline rush of dancing wore off, and hold their hands as the judges’ scores are delivered. She also spent a considerable chunk of her 14 years on the show getting grabbed and jumped on by the couples as they gurned at the camera and wielded inflatable props around and pleaded for the audience to vote for them.
Now, look. Through Strictly Come Dancing, Claudia Winkleman grew from clever, fringey, orange wacko goth to Britain’s most-loved TV presenter. Because of her, that secondary hosting gig evolved from backup support to an enormous responsibility – through her quick wit, delight in the ridiculousness and maternal instincts, she released everyone’s tension and set the tone. We watched her friendship with Tess develop in front of us and while they were a formidable partnership, she was the one with her arm round everyone, she was the one holding together that “Strictly family” in the back. Whoever inherited that role was always going to be up against it, because of how closely her unique personality and the job itself became entwined. And because she was impossibly popular.
Josh Widdicombe, though? That’s a wild card. He broke out as part of a trio on The Last Leg during the 2012 Paralympic Games and has been ubiquitous ever since, across panel shows and stand-up gigs and sitcoms. His biggest hit is probably his podcast with Rob Beckett, Parenting Hell, and lately he’s been covering for Romesh Ranganathan on Radio 2 on Saturday mornings (right before Willis, as it happens, and their handover chemistry does feel natural from the brief glimpses I’ve heard).
He is uncontroversial, and very popular, but his shtick has always been of the self-conscious misfit offering clever commentary on the sidelines. Strictly is not short of misfits, but its USP is that it is uncynical, affectionate and unashamed to be a little bit cringe. Betray that you feel a bit silly or veer into sarcasm and it’ll come across superior – this is not a place for side glances to camera, pithy asides or snark.
By not appointing someone tried and tested with Strictly fans, like favourite Zoe Ball, or as reliably camp as Claudia, like Rylan Clark, the BBC’s logic must be that a completely different direction is preferable to avoid too much comparison or critique. It’s a very bold move, but at least we can’t accuse them of being predictable or unafraid of change. It would have been very easy and unimaginative for them to keep the status quo and appoint a lesser Tess and Claud partnership, or to go for some influencer with a massive following in a bid to draw the youth crowd. Widdicombe is neither, and his selection must be down to a faith that his brand of irreverence will find its place in this most sincere and heartfelt of shows.
Perhaps it is a sign of grander shake-ups to come in Strictly’s tone and format. Certainly, some segments will have to go in the show’s bloated runtime to make space for Johannes’s reporter missives to avoid things feeling even more chaotic, and while fans are notoriously resistant to change, everyone knows Strictly needs some tweaks to keep it alive. If there’s enough consistency with the judging panel and enough familiar pros are left dancing, those big gambles could pay off.
But cynicism will never be Strictly, and for this to work Widdicombe will be forced to soften his edges to prove he belongs. I imagine no-one is taking it more seriously than him: he is a huge fan of the show, and has done the Christmas special, which reassures me that he knows what the occasion calls for. Oddly, too, the unexpected line-up gives me more faith that the BBC knows what it’s doing here than if they’d phoned it in with the bookies’ favourites and this year’s series had felt like business as usual – but a little bit less good.
So maybe this is positive. This, after all, is a programme about the “journey” – year after year we watch as uptight, uncomfortable, awkward celebrities transform in confidence and self-belief by trying really hard at something new, stepping out of their comfort zones, abandoning their self-consciousness and submitting to the corny, glitzy, absurdity of Strictly Come Dancing. This time, one of those celebrities will be its host.
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