00:00The new era of Strictly Come Dancing is upon us, and with it are our three new hosts who are
00:04already making their mark upon the dance floor, with one in particular pausing quite a stir.
00:09Comedian Josh Widdicombe has rivalled some fans from the get-go with his presenting style, with many labelling him a
00:15spare part and wooden in comparison to his equally new co-hosts Emma Willis and Johannes Radebe.
00:21While humour is of course subjective, as comedians go, Widdicombe's CV is pretty stacked.
00:26Starting out at the Edinburgh Fringe, he has gone on to feature on numerous panel shows, such as Mock the
00:32Week, 8 Up 10 Cats and The Last Leg, which he still hosts.
00:35His self-deprecating humour thrives in these often frantic and chaotic panel styles, where silly anecdotes and awkward moments are
00:43celebrated and often woven into part of the premise.
00:45But on Strictly, stood next to polished and professional Willis, it seems this type of humour isn't quite meshing, though
00:52I don't think this is Widdicombe's fault.
00:53The two have been placed down on the dance floor in a role which was so long held for by
00:57Tess Daly, whose poised and assured presence was calming to the contestants.
01:01Whilst Willis obviously mirrors Daly's temperament, it's easy to see why Widdicombe's presence doesn't gel with viewers.
01:08It's simply different, and for a show running as long as Strictly has, with tradition at its very core, that
01:13can be scary.
01:14Perhaps a better spot for Widdicombe would be in the Claudatorium, where Radade is.
01:19Winckelman brought a high energy into the upstairs gallery, which allowed contestants to relax, and I think Widdicombe's own distinctive
01:25style of funny could work well in the less structured environment.
01:29Potential switch-ups aside, we need to remember that we have entered a new era of Strictly Come Dancing, and
01:34with all the changes comes the inevitable teething problems.
01:37The show has been on air for 24 years, and aside from the inclusion of Claudia Winckelman as main co
01:43-host following the death of Sir Brombs Forsyth, not much has changed.
01:46This series has brought with it a lot of shake-ups, and it's okay not to love it, but not
01:51to give it a chance.
01:52We're only one live show in, and we've got 12 more to go, and a lot can change, as both
01:57the viewers as well as the stars, the production crew, the hosts and the judges get used to this new
02:03era.
02:03And as for Widdicombe, let's try and show a little grace.
02:06Anyone starting a new job with 5 million people ready to criticise your every move would find it a little
02:12daunting.
02:12I think we would also miss a queue now and then.
