Josh Widdicombe is facing a brutal backlash following his debut on Strictly Come Dancing. The comedian, who appears alongside Emma Willis and Johannes Radebe, has been scrutinised by fans, with viewers on X arguing that Josh appears "out of his depth" and like a "spare part" on the show, while others have suggested that he simply needs more time to find his feet.
BBC not using Josh's strengths
On one hand, I agree with fans that Josh does seem a bit nervous, and with practice, I also think he'll start to get into a rhythm on Strictly. But, above all else, I'd argue that the BBC just isn't utilising his individual strengths, and I'm not the only one.
Several Strictly fans have also pointed out that Josh could thrive in the 'Clauditorium' behind the scenes, as opposed to being planted next to Emma on the main stage.
Fans call for role swap
"Next week, can we have Johannes downstairs with Emma doing the expert responses and let Josh use his humour upstairs with the participants? I honestly think that will work better," tweeted one.
"Josh Widdecombe needs to be in the auditorium with the celebs. He's not a TV presenter; he looks uncomfortable! He'd be better upstairs, bringing on the banter and having a laugh, just like Claudia did," noted a second.
The Tess and Claudia formula
Frankly, it seems bizarre to me that Josh was put on the main stage when he clearly has the warmth and humour to speak with the celebrities away from the dancefloor. Just look at Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman - they had it down to an art form.
Tess - much like Emma - served as the consummate professional, conducting the show as an intermediary between the dancers, judges and audience. Meanwhile, Claudia brought a bit of fun and banter, chatting with the contestants post-dance and giving them space to share their honest, unfiltered reactions away from the pressures of the spotlight.
When you consider the iconic Tess and Claudia formula, it seems bizarre that the BBC hasn't employed it for the new presenters. Wouldn't it make more sense to put Emma on the main floor, given that she has the most dance experience, but place her alongside Johannes, who has the dancing expertise to help with any technical questions and commentary? That way, Josh has the freedom to ad lib and be himself without feeling like he's been thrown in the deep end.
Right now, Josh is being singled out as a "spare part," when in reality, he hasn't been given a chance to show what he can do. By taking fans' feedback on board, the BBC could act in Josh's best interests and hopefully quiet the noise around Josh. It's not fair, and it's not his fault.
