Brendan Cole 'feels a bit sorry' for Josh Widdicombe
Brendan Cole has questioned Josh Widdicombe's performance on Strictly Come Dancing.
Brendan Cole thinks Josh Widdicombe resembled a "little lamb" during his Strictly Come Dancing debut.
The 50-year-old dancer has questioned Josh, after he made his Strictly co-hosting debut alongside Emma Willis and Johannes Radebe over the weekend.
Brendan - who starred on Strictly between 2004 and 2017 - told The Sun: "I feel a bit sorry for him because he’s a bit like a lamb to the slaughter. He looked like a little lamb at times but not because he wasn’t good at his job.
"He’s not a dancer, he’s a comedian. He is a good presenter and he’s fun to watch.
"But on a show like Strictly, especially when Johannes Radebe is quite flamboyant and stands there all regally like only he would, and then alongside Emma Willis, the ultimate professional, she’s very strong and has quite a strong presenting style.
"That is probably the reason he’s getting the critique, it’s because it felt a little bit out of place."
Despite this, Brendan has encouraged viewers to "give him a chance".
The dancer explained: "We’re talking about the launch show. Let’s see what the real show is like and give him a chance, because I’d hate to be in his shoes.
"As a presenter, you’re essentially presented with a script and you do the script you’ve got."
Josh, 43, joined Strictly earlier this year, and before his appointment was rubber-stamped, a source talked-up his credentials as a TV host.
The insider told The Sun newspaper at the time: "He entered the running a little later than the others, but he nailed the chemistry tests.
"Josh is so good at live TV thanks to co-hosting The Last Leg on Channel 4 and he’s also quick-witted, kooky, awkward and funny."
Josh was tipped as the perfect candidate to replace Claudia Winkelman's comedy on the TV show, while Emma was seen as a Tess Daly-like figure.
The insider shared: "He can bring the comedy they need like Claudia Winkelman did in the ‘Claudatorium’ while Emma is seen as the sensible one, like Tess Daly.
"The BBC have told Josh he’s the man they want for the job."
