New Strictly Come Dancing host Josh Widdicombe was spotted struggling to maneuver an enormous yellow ball onto a punt on the River Stour in Canterbury while filming the pilot for his new comedy show, Let's Play Ball.
Comedian Takes on Giant Ball Challenge
The comedian was seen pushing the huge ball down the streets of Canterbury before wedging it onto a punt. He was joined by rugby player and Celebrity Traitors star Joe Marler, as well as fellow comedian Harriet Kemsley, as they tackled the task.
Kemsley, wearing a cream dress, was seen holding onto the giant ball, which towered over her head as she traveled down the river.
Show Format
In Let's Play Ball, two rival teams of comedians go head-to-head in a race to transport a gigantic ball across various terrain, including narrow city streets, rivers, and countryside meadows. The show is based on a format from the Netherlands and is produced by Initial and Zeppotron, the team behind Last One Laughing.
Production Team Comments
Katy Manley, managing director of Initial, said: "This hilarious new show is the perfect next joint project for us. Initial brings the big red balls (we also make Wipeout), while Zeppotron will unlock its legendary black book to cast the funniest people in the country. We can't wait to take this out to buyers in the UK."
Peter Holmes, managing director of Zeppotron, added: "Like the Zeppotron team, Let's Play Ball is very simple and very silly. We're really looking forward to joining forces with Initial once more to put our own spin on this big, bold, ball-based format."
Widdicombe's New Role
Stand-up comedian Widdicombe was recently announced as the new host of Strictly Come Dancing, alongside Emma Willis and Johannes Radebe. The trio will host the show together, marking a first for the flagship entertainment program. They take over from Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, who announced their departure in October 2025.
