Josh Widdicombe has a 'hard job' on Strictly Come Dancing
A former Strictly boss has raised concerns about Josh Widdicombe's fit on the show.
A former Strictly Come Dancing boss believes Josh Widdicombe has a "hard job" on the show.
The 43-year-old comedian is co-hosting Strictly Come Dancing alongside Emma Willis and Johannes Radebe, but Gareth Davies, a former senior TV producer at the BBC who helped develop and launch Strictly, believes Josh is facing an uphill struggle on the show.
He told Radio Times: "We've got Emma, Josh and Johannes. I think Emma looks like she belongs there, I think she's been a great choice.
"Johannes upstairs I think hasn't yet come into his own. As producers, it's our job to help talent find their voice, develop their style and own their content. And I feel like he's giving us a slightly watered down version of what Claudia [Winkleman] used to do, rather than actually leaning into perhaps his expertise as a dancer and finding his own way with that. It all feels very quiet upstairs."
Gareth also suggested that Josh feels like an awkward fit among the new presenting team.
The TV producer continued: "Josh downstairs with Emma, it feels like there's not a lot of room for two hosts with the four judges and the dancing duo next to them.
"I feel like it's a hard job for [Josh] to have. He's been put there like the everyman, the funny man, but actually there's not a lot of room for him to be funny there.
"So I think the producers really need to now solidify the role of Johannes, the role of Josh and also visually, I think they need to look more like a trio in how they're dressed. They need to pull their look together."
Meanwhile, Janette Manrara recently admitted that she "sobbed for a week" after being overlooked for a presenting role on Strictly Come Dancing.
The 42-year-old TV star - who previously hosted Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two, the weekday spin-off show - recalled being "devastated" by the BBC's decision.
She said on the Great Company podcast: "I remember coming home and it was a really hard pill to swallow ... I sobbed for a week. I'm not going to even begin to lie. I was devastated."
