Josh Widdicombe is confirmed as Strictly host as comedian joins new line up alongside Emma Willis and Johannes Radebe
Josh Widdicombe has been confirmed as the new Strictly host as he joins the line up alongside Emma Willis and Johannes Radebe, a source revealed to The Daily Mail.
Last week the comedian, 43, emerged as the shock favourite to host the BBC dance show after impressing bosses.
No stranger to the show, Josh appeared on the 2024 Christmas Special dressed as a penguin, where he danced alongside professional Karen Hauer, who won’t be returning for the upcoming series.
Josh marks the first male to front the programme since Bruce Forsyth, which could prove some big shoes to fill.
Sir Bruce – who died in 2017 – starred alongside Tess Daly until his retirement in 2013, when Claudia Winkleman then took over.
No stranger to TV, Josh has appeared as a co-host on The Last Leg alongside Alex Brooker and Adam Hills since 2012.
Josh Widdicombe has been confirmed as Strictly host, as the comedian joins new line up alongside Emma Willis and Johannes Radebe
Josh will be joining Emma Willis who was ‘revealed’ as the new host last week after emerging as the frontrunner during a cutthroat audition process
Bosses will be hoping Josh will serve as a replacement for Claudia’s comedic energy and help put contestants at ease, while Emma will steer the show.
The BBC told the Daily Mail: ‘Plans for Strictly Come Dancing 2026 will be confirmed in due course.’
A source said earlier this week: ‘Josh blew the producers away with his dead-pan, witty banter. He is family friendly, having helmed several shows now, and loves Strictly.’
They added to The Sun: ‘The bosses believe he will be ideal to take the show into a new era. After years as a stand-up, he can handle a live audience and is razor-sharp.
‘He’s not a household name, yet, and so to step into Brucie’s shoes would be a stellar move for his career.’
Josh will be joining Emma Willis who was ‘revealed’ as the new host last week after emerging as the frontrunner during a cutthroat audition process.
The popular presenter is thought to have impressed during the Strictly chemistry tests, with the BBC seeing her as a ‘safe pair of hands’.
A source said on Monday night: ‘Emma has been offered the Strictly job and is going to accept. She absolutely nailed the chemistry tests and the BBC adore her.
‘Emma is a household name and a safe pair of hands so the BBC know she will do the job justice.
‘She’s incredibly popular with the public too and will suit the role down to a tee. She was absolutely thrilled to have been offered the job.’
Meanwhile, Johannes is reportedly set to join Emma and Josh as part of the hosting line up for the new series.
The South African-born dancer and choreographer, 39, has been a professional on the show since 2018 but a new report now claims he could be presenting this year.
A source said: ‘Everyone involved in the auditions – including the celebs – are saying the job is going to JoJo.
Meanwhile Johannes Radebe is reportedly set to join Emma and Josh as part of the hosting line up for the new series
‘During the chemistry tests he was paired up with every other celeb and did incredibly well.’
The insider added to The Sun: ‘They all think he would be the perfect partner for Emma. He has been announced as one of the returning professional dancers but that doesn’t mean bosses aren’t going to promote him.’
Last week, frontrunner Zoe Ball broke the news that she had lost out on the job, admitting that she is ‘working through the seven stages of grief and rejection’.
Such candour from celeb candidates is rare and proves the lustre of the role. But according to insiders, bosses are now pinning all their hopes on one woman.
A producer who worked on a reality show with Emma, 50, a few years ago has insisted: ‘If anyone can turn things around for Strictly, it’s her.’
‘There’s something she has on screen, a mix of vulnerability and confidence, that everyone just falls in love with.’
Emma is thought to have impressed during the chemistry tests and auditions which have taken place in recent weeks.
She is well versed in Saturday night telly, having raised viewing figures on The Voice UK by two million when she took over from Holly Willoughby in 2014.
She’s also honed her live presenting skills on reality telly juggernaut Big Brother and via her stand-in stints on This Morning.
After weeks of speculation and multiple major names turning the job down, nine shortlisted stars were summoned to a top-secret location in London to battle it out in full-scale dress rehearsals with a judging panel and live band in a bid to get the troubled show back on track.
BBC bosses held secret auditions and chemistry tests with the celebrities and forced the stars to sign strict NDAs to keep the tryouts under wraps.
Last month, a source told The Sun: ‘It’s not just about reading autocue. They’ll be looking at how people work together and humour is a massive part of it. There’s everything to play for.’
The chosen few who were called to the final test were watched closely and bosses are hoping to make a decision soon.
Among those confirmed to be in the callbacks were Rylan, Emma, Tom Allen and One Show presenter Alex Jones.
A source said: ‘They really want to bring the fun this year. It’s all about chemistry, who clicks instantly and can keep the energy up live on air.
‘They could stick with two female hosts as that’s worked brilliantly. But they’re also open to mixing it up.
‘If Rylan and Tom Allen click, that could be a hilarious pairing. Equally, they could even introduce a third presenter to shake things up.’
The Beeb have recently given an insight into what fans can expect for the 24th series of the much-loved programme.
The likes of Dianne Buswell, 37, Nancy Xu, 34, Vito Coppola, 33, Julian Caillon, 30, Carlos Gu, 33, Lauren Oakley, 35, Amy Dowden, 35, Katya Jones, 36, Neil Jones, 44, Nikita Kuzmin, 28, Jowita Przystał, 31, Johannes Radebe, 39, Aljaž Škorjanec, 36, Alexis Warr, 25, and Kai, 30, will be returning to the dance floor this year.
They will be joined by some new professional dancers who are yet to be announced.
Karen Hauer, 43, Gorka Marquez, 35, Nadiya Bychkova, 36, Michelle Tsiakkas, 30, and Luba Mushtuk, 36, were all given the boot.
The celebrities will be judged by Shirley Ballas, 65, Craig Revel Horwood, 61, Motsi Mabuse, 45, and Anton du Beke, 59.
