NEWLY announced Strictly Come Dancing host Josh Widdicombe revealed he almost passed up the opportunity to do the BBC One TV show because he didn’t want to throw his life into chaos.
The 43-year-old comedian was confirmed last week to front the series alongside Emma Willis and pro dancer Johannes Radebe, replacing long-running presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.
But Josh has confessed he nearly swerved the mainstream gig.
He said: “When the call came initially just for the meeting I thought, ‘I really like my life, would I want to throw it into flux?’ Because it’s a big thing, it’s a defining thing that you’re suddenly doing it but I just thought, ‘What an incredible thing to experience’.”
Dad-of-two Josh said on his Parenting Hell podcast: “When I started out in stand-up, no one foresaw this. It’s wild.
“It’s one of the biggest shows in the 21st century, alongside I’m A Celeb.
“I’m glad it’s out there because I’ve been lying to people, I’ve evaded questions.
“I’m incredibly excited — there is a real fun vibe to the three of us, there is something for everyone, it’s the ultimate modern family. It feels weird now, as it’s four months away. I couldn’t tell my kids, as you can’t trust them.”
Josh, who has also been a regular on Channel 4’s satirical news show The Last Leg since 2012, has been considering how to deal with his schedule in the run-up to Strictly and during the series, which starts this autumn.
He said: “I’m doing two podcasts, but we’ll be done by the end of June.
“I’m doing Last Leg, yes, but that’s from home, on Zooms — the show is on Friday before Strictly on Saturday. So yes, it’s up and down.”
He added: “I’ll be cha-cha-cha-ing my way to bed.”
Ahead of his busy new schedule, he said: “I’ve got nothing before then, I’ve got nothing in the school holidays so I’m just going to parent before then.”
As for his good-looking Strictly co-stars Emma and Johannes, he said: “I realised at the photoshoot I am a weird-looking guy and I have been cast with two of the most striking-looking people on British television.
“Please welcome the runt of the litter.”
Earlier this year it was reported that Josh and his wife, TV producer Rose Hanson, had bought Noel Edmonds’s £2.95million five-bedroom former home in Exeter last year after selling their £2.3million East London townhouse.
The couple also own a £1million home in Mullion, Cornwall, which they rent out.
