Strictly Come Dancing star Josh Widdicombe is a familiar face on TV screens, but away from the spotlight, the comedian has a much quieter life.
Strictly Come Dancing star Josh Widdicombe is a familiar face on TV screens, but away from the spotlight, the comedian has a much quieter life.
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Josh Widdicombe, known for his stand-up and TV appearances on The Last Leg, is taking on a fresh challenge this year as he gears up to join the cast of the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special.
Set to join Josh in the quest for the star-shaped trophy are fellow celebrities Vogue Williams, Tamzin Outhwaite, Billy Monger, Tayce and Harry Aikines-Aryeetey in the BBC festive favourite.
Teaming up with pro dancer Karen Hauer, Josh shared his jitters before hitting the dance floor. He said: “I am utterly terrified this will end in humiliation and worried I’m going to be so bad I will ruin Christmas for the nation. Why have I done this?”
As fans eagerly anticipate who will snag the title in this holiday TV highlight, an insight into Josh’s off-screen life reveals more talent within his family circle.
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His wife, Rose Hanson, though not chasing limelight herself, stands out as a significant force in television production with meaningful contributions to smash-hit series such as 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown and Live at the Apollo, reports the Mirror.
Married to Josh since 2019, Roses impressive career includes behind-the-scenes acclaim from the Never Mind the Buzzcocks’ research team to her influential work on flagship programmes including Alan Carr: Chatty Man and Would I Lie To You?
It appears that the flair for entertainment is a family trait, given Rose’s mum was the brilliant mind behind Zippy, one of the cherished characters from the kids’ TV classic Rainbow.
In an engaging conversation with Rob Brydon on his podcast, Josh shared an intriguing anecdote that connected his career and family heritage.
He admitted: “I’d be lying if I said that hadn’t crossed my mind at points in the sense there’s an obvious comparison to be made.
“And then the thought of your mum creating a fictional character that you then, not end up marrying, but if there’s a Hollywood movie and it turned out that Zippy had been made into a human, and then it was me, it wouldn’t be outlandish.”
Josh has been happily married to Rose for six years, and the couple is blessed with two children. They welcomed their daughter Pearl in October 2017 and their son Cassius arrived in May 2021.
The comic frequently shares insights into his experiences with parenting on the podcast Parenting Hell, which he co-hosts with fellow comedian Rob Beckett.
On a particularly touching edition of the show, Josh opened up about the heartbreak he and Rose experienced due to a miscarriage. Recalling the delicate period following the loss, he expressed: “The reason I haven’t spoken about it is because when Rose was pregnant, which came after the miscarriage, you feel like – I know this sounds mad – but you don’t want to tempt fate.
“I was just like, ‘I just want to get to the end of this.’ I didn’t feel like I wanted say, ‘but now we’ve got a happy ending because we’re pregnant again’, because you still feel like you’re part of it.”
Josh shared his thoughts on the podcast about the constant anxiety following a miscarriage, saying: “When you’re pregnant after a miscarriage, every day feels perilous, like it could go wrong in the way you just don’t feel before.”
Moreover, during the same podcast, Josh spoke openly about his path to sobriety and how he celebrated being one year alcohol-free earlier this year. With a touch of humour, he recalled marking the occasion with a reflective Instagram post, which included: “I tried for years to drink in moderation, but it was never in my skill set, so I don’t miss a glass of wine with lunch or dinner as I have never had that in my life without wanting to have ten more.”
Concluding his advice on the subject, he added: “If you are looking to stop drinking my advice to chat to people you know that have stopped about how they did it, that is what I did. If you don’t want to stop drinking then can I recommend Ibiza.”
The Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special will air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer on Christmas Day at 3:55pm.
