Strictly Come Dancing has three new hosts - with one in particular causing quite a stir.
Comedian Josh Widdicombe has riled some fans from the get-go with his presenting style, with many labelling him a “spare part” in comparison to co-hosts Emma Willis and Johannes Radebe, who have generally received a much warmer reception.
“Wooden,” “awkward,” and “not funny” are just a few of the criticisms being thrown at Widdicombe on social media, the latter likely being a particularly hard pill to swallow for the comedian to swallow.
While humour is of course subjective, as comedians go, Widdicombe’s CV is stacked.
Beginning his career in stand-up comedy way back in 2008, he worked his way through the circuit scene, with his debut solo show, If This Show Saves One Life…, earning him a Best Newcomer nomination at the Foster’s Edinburgh Comedy Awards in 2011.
But it was in the following year that he truly found his groove and made a name for himself in panel shows, with appearances on Mock the Week, 8 out of 10 Cats and The Last Leg, the latter of which he co-hosts.
His self-deprecating humour thrives in these often frantic and chaotic panel-style shows, where silly anecdotes and awkward moments are celebrated and often woven into part of the premise.
But on Strictly, stood next to polished and professional Willis, it seems this type of humour isn’t quite meshing yet.
I don’t think this is Widdicombe’s fault.
The two have been placed down on the dance floor, in a role which was for so long held by Tess Daly, whose poised and assured presence was calming to contestants fresh off the dance floor.
Willis obviously mirrors Daly’s temperament, so it’s easy to see why Widdicombe’s presence doesn’t gel with viewers - it’s simply different, and for a show running as long as Strictly has, tradition is at its very core.
Daly’s counterpart, Claudia Winkleman, was situated upstairs in the affectionately fan-named Clauditorium, in a position now held by Radebe, where he catches up with the dancers and their partners after receiving the judges’ scores.
It’s clear to see that for the pros, their beloved “Jojo” who many have worked alongside for years, is well deserving of his new promotion.
I wholeheartedly agree. Though I can’t help but wonder if he would be better suited on the dance floor with Willis, and placing Widdicombe instead in the spot long held by Winkleman.
It could allow him to inject his own style of chaotic humour into the post-scoring debriefs with the contestants, away from the watching eyes of the judges below. Winkleman brought a high energy into the upstairs gallery which allowed the contestants to relax, and I think Widdicombe’s own distinctive style of funny could work well in the less structured environment.
Take his podcast Parenting Hill with Rob Beckett. Whilst there is a somewhat structure to the episodes which combines conversations, listener interaction, and celebrity interviews, the candid chats about fatherhood often feature funny anecdotes that flow naturally, delivered alongside his equally high-energy co-host Beckett.
Him playing the “funny man” to Willis’ “straight-edged” host is not a combination that he has previous experience to harken back to.
Potential switch-ups aside, we need to remember that we have entered a new era of Strictly Come Dancing, and with all the changes come inevitable teething problems.
The show has been on air for 24 years, and aside from the inclusion of Claudia Winkleman as main co-host following the death of Sir Bruce Forsyth, not much has changed.
A new trio of hosts, five new professional dancers replacing some of our longstanding favourites, as well as format shake-ups to both the main show and It Takes Two can definitely be a lot to get your head around for long-term fans. And it’s okay not to love it.
But to not give it a chance? We’re only one live show in, and we’ve got 12 more to go. A lot can change as both the viewers, as well as the stars and production crew, get used to this new era.
The magic of Strictly will always be there, even if the outside looks a little different. From fans seeing promise in the new pros to a likeable new underdog in YouTuber John Nellis already rising to the top, these moments are why we keep coming back time and time again.
As for Josh Widdicombe? Anyone try starting a new job with 5 million people ready to criticise your every move. I think we would also miss a cue now and then.
So let’s show a little grace to our beloved show and give Widdicombe, and his co-hosts, stars and dancers, the backing they need to make this another Strictly series to remember.
