Josh Widdicombe Reveals Unexpected Way He Became Strictly Come Dancing Host

Comedian Josh Widdicombe has revealed that he landed the job as host of Strictly Come Dancing in an unusual way: by sending a joking text message to one of the show's producers. The man known for The Last Leg will be one of three new hosts for the upcoming season, alongside Emma Willis and dancer Johannes Radebe, replacing Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.

Widdicombe recounted that he had already built a good relationship with Strictly executive producer Sarah James since taking part as a contestant in the 2024 Christmas special. When he heard the show was looking for replacement hosts, he sent a brief message: "Right, I'll take the job." However, because there was no immediate reply, he worried he had misread the situation. The next day, James finally replied, and a few months later, Widdicombe was surprised by a serious offer from the production team.

In an interview with The Times, Widdicombe reflected, "Did I unconsciously throw my name into the ring with that text, which may have been the biggest career move of my life? I imagine I'll be discussing that with a therapist for the next 20 years." He also admitted he had doubts because he had just moved house from London to Exeter with his wife and two children. "We'd just moved from London to Exeter, the kids are happy at their school. Did I really want to upend my life and do this mad thing? Of course I did," he said.

Widdicombe described his meeting with the producer at a hotel as being like a scene from a spy novel, where he needed to prepare a cover story for his first audition. "There had already been a leak and it all felt like being in a John le Carré novel," he said. He believed his initial audition was bad and was surprised when he was asked back for a screen test with Emma and Johannes. "I thought I was terrible. Everything I said felt fake. I didn't know where to put my hands," he recalled. But after being paired with Emma and Johannes, he felt everything clicked. "From the moment we met, everyone was on the same wavelength, everyone was laughing," he added.

After filming the launch show, Widdicombe grew more confident. "Then we did the launch show and I was like: 'Oh no, we're good at this, this is fun.' I'm confident. I'm not a bad comedian, I know that. On launch night, the excitement in that room was incredible. It was one of the least cynical places I've ever been. I think people focus too much on the weird negative side associated with Strictly, and I just said, 'I'm not going to be part of that'," he said.

"Did I unconsciously throw my name into the ring with that text, which may have been the biggest career move of my life? I imagine I'll be discussing that with a therapist for the next 20 years."

— Josh Widdicombe

Widdicombe's story highlights the dynamics of the British entertainment industry, which is becoming more open to personal approaches and the courage to take risks. For Indonesian audiences, this phenomenon can be a mirror of how the global broadcasting world continues to evolve, especially in choosing hosts who can bring chemistry and freshness. At a time when Indonesia's creative industry is also looking for new formats and new faces, the courage to step out of one's comfort zone—as Widdicombe did—is a valuable lesson.

Going forward, Widdicombe's performance alongside Emma Willis and Johannes Radebe will be a test of whether the chemistry they built behind the scenes can captivate Strictly's loyal viewers. Will this relaxed and surprise-filled approach become a new trend in choosing hosts for entertainment shows? Time will tell, but Widdicombe's move has at least shown that big opportunities sometimes come from unexpected things.