Josh Widdicombe has revealed how he landed the hosting job on Strictly Come Dancing, after sending a joking text to producer Sarah James.
The comedian appears on the BBC show every Saturday night alongside Emma Willis and Johannes Radebe. The three presenters made their debut on the first live show last weekend, taking over from Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, who departed their roles at the end of last year.
Career and rise to fame
Josh Widdicombe has appeared on several TV shows over the years, best known for Channel 4's The Last Leg as well as Mock the Week. He won the first series of Taskmaster in 2015.
Before making a name for himself in television, the 43-year-old worked at The Guardian after completing a master's degree in magazine journalism at the University of London. His career soon shifted into comedy, appearing on Live at the Apollo and supporting stand-up comedians like Russell Howard, Michael McIntyre and Alan Carr on their live tours.
How Josh got the Strictly job
In May 2026, he was announced as the new host of Strictly Come Dancing. It isn't his first time in the ballroom, as he took part in the 2024 Christmas special, where he became good friends with producer Sarah James.
When Tess and Claudia announced their decision to leave the programme in 2025, Josh sent Sarah a text which said: "All right, I'll take the job". Although it was sent as a joke, Josh later revealed he was glad he made the bold decision because he never expected to be in the running for one of the most highly sought after jobs in television.
He told The Times: "Was I unconsciously putting my hat in the ring with this text that was perhaps my greatest ever career move? I think that is something I will be dealing with with a therapist for the next 20 years." He added: "We'd just moved from London to Exeter, the kids were happy in their school - do I really want to even engage with ripping my life up and doing this mad thing? ... Of course I do."
Personal life and health
Away from showbiz, Josh is married to Rose Hanson, a TV producer and interior designer. The couple met while working in the industry in 2013, before tying the knot in 2019. They share two children, a daughter named Pearl (born October 2017) and a son named Cassius (born May 2021).
Rose has worked behind the camera on hit British comedy and entertainment shows, including Would I Lie to You?, Live at the Apollo, and 8 Out of 10 Cats, before transitioning to interior design. Rose's mum is the creator of the iconic 1980s children's television puppet Zippy from Rainbow.
Josh has previously opened up about living with pectus excavatum, a structural deformity where the sternum and rib cage are shaped abnormally, producing a caved-in or sunken appearance of the chest. He discovered it after mentioning it to celebrity doctor Christian Jessen on an episode of 8 Out of 10 Cats, and has often joked about the indentation in his stand-up routines.
