Josh Widdicombe has spoken candidly about the “sad” side of his new presenting role on Strictly Come Dancing, admitting that he “hated” sending home the first eliminated celebrity.
The comedian forms part of the new presenting trio alongside Emma Willis and dancer Johannes Radebe, following the exit of Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly. Some viewers have criticised Widdicombe’s hosting skills, describing him as a “spare part” and blaming him for autocue issues and awkward pauses. Others have called for Willis to “take over more” as host, or for her husband Matt Willis to replace Widdicombe on the dancefloor.
Emotional response to first elimination
Speaking on Strictly’s spin-off show It Takes Two on Thursday, Widdicombe shared his emotional response to Chris Appleton becoming the first celebrity to leave the competition.
“I know this sounds weird but when I took the Strictly job I didn't realise how difficult eliminations was going to be, emotions would be... it's so intense, you feel terrible,” he told host Ellie Taylor.
During the results show, Widdicombe joined Radebe upstairs to speak to the dancers who had made it through to next week, while Willis remained downstairs to reveal the couples facing elimination.
Widdicombe remarked: "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."
Hosts address backlash
He shared similar thoughts while appearing on the new post-results show Strictly: Lights Up. Host Abi Clarke asked: "Josh, first results show for you. How does it feel to send someone home?"
He admitted: "I hated that. It's awful. Can I say that?" to which Radebe responded: "You can absolutely say that, because that's the part of the show that I do not miss."
Strictly suffered a dip in viewing figures during the first live results show on Sunday, drawing in just 4.5 million viewers compared to 6.2 million last year.
Format here to stay
However, as the show enters its third week on air, insiders said bosses are staying firm with the new hosts and will give viewers time to adjust to the new line-up.
“The public needs a bit of time to get used to them and they need a bit of space to bed in. This will happen in the coming weeks,” a source told The Mirror.
“Already there was a much more positive reaction this weekend than after the first live show. We’re British and we’re not very good at change - but this formula is here to stay so everyone needs to get used to it.”
In August, Willis had suggested that the hosts might have the “freedom” to present the show from different spots around the studio. “We’re working around what feels good and how it's going to work - we’re kind of having a nice play,” she explained during rehearsals.
However, sources now say the format will remain the same - with Willis and Widdicombe on the ballroom floor, essentially taking over from Tess Daly, and Radebe serving as the new Claudia Winkleman in the upstairs area.
“The fact that there were no changes made between week one and week two is very telling - you can read plenty into that. The producers and the presenters had fun playing around in the run-up, but now these roles are sticking,” the insider said.
