Comedian Josh Widdicombe, one of the new presenters of Strictly Come Dancing, has admitted he was forced to lie to his loved ones about securing the coveted role before the official BBC announcement. The 43-year-old, who will co-host alongside Emma Willis and dancer Johannes Radebe, revealed the pressure of keeping the secret on his Parenting Hell podcast.
Keeping the Secret
Widdicombe confessed on the podcast, which he co-hosts with Rob Beckett: "I'm glad it's out there because I've been lying to people." He faced questions from family and friends but had to evade the truth. Beckett jokingly accused him of "lying on Good Morning Britain," but Widdicombe insisted he merely "evaded questions," prompting Beckett to quip: "You acted like a politician."
Children Left in the Dark
The comedian also kept the news from his two children, daughter Pearl, eight, and son Cassius, five, whom he shares with TV producer wife Rose Hanson. He explained: "I couldn't trust them. You simply can't trust an eight-year-old. You don't say, 'You can't tell anyone,' because that's unfair." He planned to tell them after picking them up from school, adding that his daughter might not fully grasp the significance.
New Role and Challenges
Widdicombe previously competed in the Strictly Christmas Special in 2024, dancing the Charleston as a penguin with professional Karen Hauer. Of his new hosting job, he said: "I am giddy with excitement, honoured and a little overawed to be given the chance into the biggest shoes on television."
However, his new role comes with logistical challenges. Last year, he moved his family to Exeter in Devon, nearly 200 miles from Elstree Studios where Strictly is filmed. He described the move as a decision made after browsing Rightmove for about a month and falling in love with a local school.
