Josh Widdicombe divides Strictly viewers with 'awkward' autocue habit
Josh made his hosting debut during Saturday's launch showJosh Widdicombe has divided Strictly viewers after some spotted him silently following his co-hosts’ autocue lines.
Josh’s habit was spotted during the 2026 launch on Saturday night. Viewers said Josh seemed to mouth words assigned to Emma Willis and Johannes Radebe.
The moment brought fresh scrutiny to the new Strictly presenting trio, whose first show had already split viewers.
One X user wrote: “Josh – please stop mouthing along to Emma and Jo Jo’s script, you look like a ventriloquists dummy…”
Another said: “Josh seems awkward with the autocue. Seemed to be mouthing Emma’s words as she spoke. I think he will come into his own with improv situations in the Clauditorium. But for now he seems the odd one out.”
Someone else commented: “First impressions of #strictly Emma Willis is a seasoned pro. Josh, this isn’t his bag. Wrong show imo. He needs to stop forcing the laugh and mouthing the autocue when other presenters are speaking.”
Josh Widdicombe admits ‘fears’ over Strictly debut
Josh had already acknowledged his nerves before stepping into the new presenting job. Before the launch, he appeared on The One Show alongside Emma and Johannes.
Josh called the wait “nerve-racking”, saying the team had spent a long time preparing for viewers to see the show. He admitted: “I’ve been living in a ball of fear.”
However, he said the launch left him eager for viewers to watch after the team had “the best time”. His comments made clear that he felt considerable pressure before taking charge of the programme.
Johannes said the launch would not immediately reveal each presenter’s exact role. He presented that uncertainty as part of the excitement around their debut.
Emma Willis draws warmer Strictly comments
Emma Willis, meanwhile, received warmer comments from several viewers discussing the trio. Many called her a natural.
Her previous hosting credits include Big Brother and The Voice UK, giving audiences a familiar point of comparison.
Critics of Josh also questioned whether his comic style fitted the programme’s atmosphere.
Some viewers simply asked for Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman to return. The former pair stepped down last October, before Emma, Josh and Johannes were announced in May.
That left the launch introducing both the 2026 celebrity class and the first outing for its three presenters. However, the split reaction included calls for patience, leaving Josh room to settle as the competition develops.
Strictly launch date and Emma Willis’ final clue
The launch show aired on Saturday, September 19 2026. Emma described hosting the programme as a genuine honour.
She then said to viewers: “And we cannot wait to spend the next 13 weeks with all of you.”
Read more: Claudia Winkleman praises new Strictly host Emma Willis with gushing comment following launch show
Counting 13 weeks forward from that broadcast points to December 19 2026. That appeared to reveal the final date, although Emma did not explicitly label it as such.
Viewers may therefore have a likely endpoint as the new presenters continue finding their rhythm.
Strictly Come Dancing continues at 6.15pm on BBC One on Saturday September 26, 2026.
This article was produced with the assistance of AI technology to synthesise source reporting and structured data. It has been reviewed, edited, and fact-checked by our human editorial team before publication.
