The man who launched Strictly Come Dancing more than 20 years ago has said new host Josh Widdicombe is finding it very hard going.
Josh, alongside Emma Willis and Johannes Radebe, has taken over presenting duties from Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. But the comedian has been labelled a 'spare part' after a difficult start to the new series, with viewers praising his co-stars instead.
Gareth Davies gives his verdict
Gareth Davies, who created the show, has now shared his thoughts on the new line-up after two live shows. In a TikTok video, he said: "I feel like it's a hard job for him to have. He's been put there like the everyman, the funny man, but actually, there's not a lot of room for him to be funny there."
Davies, 51, compared Josh's role to his own experience presenting with Sir Bruce Forsyth and Tess Daly. "Bruce was very much the personification of the show, the song and dance man. Tess was more the entertainment presenter," he said.
BBC 'one step behind'
He also reflected on the later pairing of Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly, saying it "felt new and fresh back then" to have two women presenting. On the current series, he added: "I do feel a little bit like the BBC are one step behind rather than one step ahead of where they should be for the BBC's biggest primetime Saturday night entertainment show."
Despite the first exit of celebrity hairstylist Chris Appleton and his partner Amy Dowden during Movie Week, some viewers were more focused on the presenting line-up, questioning the need for three hosts, particularly a comedian.
Josh appeared to address the backlash during an episode of Strictly: It Takes Two, joking: "It's been very low key since no one's talked to me about it." Emma Willis also expressed sympathy, saying: "I feel really sorry for you, you're on that side of the stairs by yourself and me and Jojo are on the other side." Josh replied that he wasn't alone because he was in the presence of judge Craig Revel Horwood.
Strictly Come Dancing continues on Saturday at 6.15pm on BBC One.
