A popular British comedian is now favourite to present Strictly Come Dancing after wowing producers
Tess and Claudia hosted together for years(Image: CREDIT LINE:BBC/Guy Levy)
A comedian is now favourite to present Strictly Come Dancing after wowing producers.
Josh Widdecombe has reportedly become frontrunner to host the BBC Latin and ballroom show in the coming series after hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman’s departure from the show.
It has been revealed that a number of celebrities are ‘auditioning’ for hosting duties, with names including Zoe Ball, Rylan Clark and Angela Scanlon all rumoured to in the running.
However, bosses look as though they’ve got a new preferred presenter after he wowed producers. If Josh was to get the job, he’d be the first male host since Sir Bruce Forsyth left the programme.
“Josh blew the producers away with his dead-pan, witty banter. He is family friendly, having helmed several shows now, and loves Strictly,” a source told 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.”
It comes after Alan Carr broke his silence on rumours he was a contender for the Strictly hosting duties.
“I didn’t turn it down, I was just clumped with everyone and had to say: ‘No, don’t put me in the mix.’ I love watching Strictly, but I don’t love it enough. People are always moaning there aren’t new, fresh faces on TV. Well, wouldn’t it be amazing to give it to a young person who absolutely adores Strictly and dancing?” he said to The Telegraph.
The Celebrity Traitors winner added: “If I rock up on it, they’ll go: ‘Oh, here he is again.’ Why waste it on me? I don’t really know the dances. I’d be like: ‘Oh here they go again, that dance with the legs.'”
In a joint statement last year, Tess and Claudia announced their decision to leave the show.
“We have loved working as a duo and hosting Strictly has been an absolute dream. We were always going to leave together and now feels like the right time,” the pair wrote in a joint statement online.
“We will have the greatest rest of this amazing series and we just want to say an enormous thank you to the BBC and to every single person who works on the show.”
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