Josh Widdicombe battling 'stomach problems' after 'tiring' Strictly Come Dancing launch show
Josh Widdicombe, Emma Willis and Johannes Radebemake their hosting debut when the Strictly Come Dancing launch show airs on Saturday (19.09.26).
Strictly Come Dancing host Josh Widdicombe is suffering from "stomach problems" after admitting the first week on the job left him "tired".
The comic, 43, was left drained after filming the BBC Latin and Ballroom dance competition's launch show on September 9, where he and his co-presenters Emma Willis, 50, and Johannes Radebe, 39, reveal the celebrity contestants' dance partners.
On the latest episode of his and 40-year-old comedian Rob Beckett's Parenting Hell podcast, Josh admitted: "I'm not very well.
"I don't want to go too graphic, but I've got stomach problems. I just keep nedding a p***, and I'm constipated, and I've got stomach pains."
He added: "I'm not stressed, I'm tired.
"Full disclosure, we've done the launch show of Strictly on Wednesday. It went well. The next day, I don't think I've ever been so tired in my life, and I still don't feel like I've fully recovered.
"Admittedly, I had a show in Dublin the next day, then I came back, and then I had a full-on weekend of parenting."
Josh and his wife Rose Hanson have an eight-year-old daughter named Pearl, and a five-year-old son called Cassius.
On Saturday (19.09.26), viewers will see him, Emma and Johannes make their hosting debut when the Strictly Come Dancing launch show airs.
In May, they were unveiled as the presenting trio after Tess Daly, 57, and Claudia Winkleman, 54, stepped down in December.
However, there are no "like-for-like" swaps in terms of their duties.
Speaking alongside her co-hosts, Emma told 55-year-old Richard Osman on his The Rest Is Entertainment podcast: "There’s no like-for-like, so no one’s kind of replacing anybody, and at the minute it’s all very kind of open.
"We’re having lots of production days where we go in, and we play around, and we’re kind of feeling each other out – well, they’re feeling us out really."
Josh jokingly compared their situation to the idea of "total football", which is a style of play where players can rotate in and out of each other's positions.
He quipped: "It’s going to be like total football, Richard. We’re going to be moving everywhere."
Taking part in this year's series are EastEnders icon Lacey Turner, 38, Neighbours alum Delta Goodrem, 41, Love Island alums Cach Mercer, 25, and 30-year-old Dani Dyer - who withdrew last year due to an ankle injury - and 43-year-old celebrity hairstylist, Chris Appleton.
Big Brother host Will Best, 41, Paralympian Dame Sarah Storey, 48, Babs actress Jaime Winstone, 41, football player-turned-pundit Shaun Wright-Phillips, 44, and House of the Dragon's Bethany Antonia, 28, are also taking to the dance floor.
Completing the line-up are dog trainer Graeme Hall, 60, Emmerdale actor Lawrence Robb, 34, Olympic skeleton gold medallist Tabby Stoecker, 25, YouTube star John Nellis, 33, and 64-year-old Gavin and Stacey star Melanie Walters.
The live competition format kicks off the following week, Saturday, September 26.
However, the first results show, and elimination will not air until Sunday, October 4, and it has been confirmed that the winners of this year's Glitterball Trophy will be revealed on Saturday, December 19.
