Strictly Come Dancing presenter Josh Widdicombe has a family connection to one of the most beloved children's characters of the 1970s and 1980s. His mother-in-law, puppeteer Violet Philpott, is one of the creative forces behind Zippy, the iconic puppet from the BBC programme Rainbow.
Family Ties to Entertainment
Josh, who currently presents Strictly alongside Emma Willis and Johannes Radebe, is not the only member of his family with entertainment credentials. In 2019, he married television producer Rose Hanson, whose credits include Live at the Apollo and 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown. Rose has also worked as an assistant producer on Alan Carr: Chatty Man and Would I Lie To You?
Rose's mother, Violet Philpott, created Zippy, which made its debut on Rainbow in 1972. The character was part of a puppet trio alongside George the hippo and Bungle bear. It was recently confirmed that the voice artist behind Zippy, Ronnie Le Drew, died aged 78.
Josh's Light-Hearted Comparison
Josh has previously joked about the resemblance between himself and the zip-mouthed puppet. Speaking on Rob Brydon's podcast, he said: "I'd be lying if I said that hadn't crossed my mind at points in the sense there's an obvious comparison to be made."
He added: "If there's a Hollywood movie and it turned out that Zippy had been made into a human, and then it was me, it wouldn't be outlandish."
Strictly Challenges
Discussing his role on the show, Josh told Ellie Taylor on It Takes Two: "I know this sounds weird, but when I took the Strictly job I didn't realise how difficult eliminations were going to be, emotions would be. It's so intense, you feel terrible."
He added: "You know what, being upstairs with JoJo talking to the couples that got through... what a sweet gig that is. Poor old Emma downstairs. We're upstairs with the people who are through, but it's really sad."
Strictly Come Dancing airs Saturday, October 24, on BBC One at 6:30pm.
