By BETHAN EDWARDS, SHOWBUSINESS REPORTER
Published: 15:13 BST, 9 October 2026 | Updated: 15:23 BST, 9 October 2026
Comedian Josh Widdicombe has offered fans a glimpse into the less glamorous side of the television industry, taking to social media to complain about the budget ground floor hotel room he is currently staying in. The 43-year-old comic, who recently stepped into the spotlight as one of the BBC’s new Strictly Come Dancing hosts alongside Emma Willis and professional dancer Johannes Radebe, admitted that he has been feeling "incredibly stressed" by his temporary accommodation.
The broadcaster, who lives in Exeter and commutes to London each week for his professional commitments, posted a tongue-in-cheek update on Instagram on Friday. He shared his frustrations with his followers, explaining that the layout of his room forces him to keep the curtains closed throughout the entire day to maintain his privacy.
"A brief update on my brilliant life. Ground floor hotel room. It’s just incredibly stressful, who’s this [driving past] I could have been nude. I’ve got to have a shower in a minute," Widdicombe told his social media followers.
He elaborated on the comical yet irritating situation, adding that his living conditions mirror those of someone going through a significant personal upheaval. "I basically have to have the curtains closed at all times, like I’m recovering from a breakup and lying in bed. I just don’t want to be nude in front of other people. Is that too much to ask? This is no life."
Accompanying the video update with a sharp piece of self-deprecating wit, Widdicombe added a caption reading: "The showbiz dream continues." It remains unconfirmed whether the room is his permanent weekly base ahead of grueling Friday rehearsals for the hit weekend entertainment show, or simply a temporary stopover during a busy production schedule. Representatives for both Strictly Come Dancing and Widdicombe have been contacted by the Daily Mail for comment regarding his remarks.
The behind-the-scenes hotel woes arrive at a challenging time for the comedian, who has faced intense scrutiny from diehard viewers ever since he was announced as part of the new presenting lineup. Alongside fellow host Emma Willis and fan-favourite professional dancer Johannes Radebe, Widdicombe was brought in to fill the massive shoes left by long-serving presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.
While public opinion has slowly begun to shift, with many viewers gradually warming to Widdicombe’s unique brand of humour and presenting style, recent episodes of the BBC show reignited viewer frustration over production choices. Despite mounting criticism from fans following the series premiere, show bosses opted to keep their original presenting format firmly in place for week two, rather than mixing up the roles as many had hoped.
Instead of addressing fan feedback, producers maintained the division of labour that left some viewers perplexed during the opening week. Widdicombe and Willis continued to handle presenting duties down on the main floor alongside the competing couples, while Radebe remained stationed upstairs in the iconic "Clauditorium" to chat with the contestants about their judges’ scores and reactions.
The decision did not go unnoticed by the audience at home. Viewers flooded social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, to voice their disappointment, accusing show producers of ignoring constructive public feedback and failing to utilize the presenting trio to their full potential.
"So they ignored the public and kept Josh downstairs doing his work experience, will Jojo talk while they walk up the stairs?" one frustrated viewer wrote online, questioning the rigid division of tasks between the floor and the upper gallery.
Another chimed in: "They’ve not changed the presenting situation then. Josh is downstairs. They haven’t listened."
Other fans pointed out that the format felt unbalanced, suggesting that the production team should have rotated the roles to give the hosts a chance to shine in different environments. "When we said Josh felt like a spare part downstairs, we didn’t mean we wanted him to do more and Emma less," posted another user. "I don’t understand why they’re not varying the presenting. Why is Johannes in the Clauditorium again? I’d have thought they would have swapped over and had Josh Widdicombe there this week after presenting on the floor last week."
Further comments echoed the sentiment, with viewers expressing surprise that the BBC had not experimented with the lineup. "I really wish they had put JoJo and Josh together upstairs," one fan noted, while another added, "Really surprised they haven’t switched and tried Josh in the upstairs role after the feedback from last week."
Despite the ongoing debate surrounding the presenting format and the spatial distribution of the hosts, there were notable high points for the new team. Former professional dancer Johannes Radebe earned widespread praise from the audience for his growing confidence and natural charisma in his new role, with many noting that his presenting skills have vastly improved since the series launch.
Meanwhile, the competition itself pressed on into its second week, bringing back the much-anticipated Movie Week theme. Celebrities and their professional partners took to the dance floor to perform routines inspired by iconic cinematic masterpieces, entertaining the nation with numbers drawn from popular films such as The Devil Wears Prada, Mary Poppins, and the animated hit Zootropolis.
Following the established rules of the competition, the scores awarded by the judging panel during week one were carried forward and combined with the marks earned during week two, resulting in a cumulative overall leaderboard total for the couples.
At the end of an eventful weekend of movie-themed routines, Australian singer Delta Goodrem and her professional partner Kai Widdrington surged to the top of the leaderboard. The pair secured a combined score of 59 points across the first two weeks of the competition, placing them in a strong position as the series gathers momentum.
The evening’s performances kicked off with reality star Dani Dyer and her professional partner Nikita Kuzmin. The couple delivered a charming Foxtrot routine choreographed to the classic Disney tune Beauty and the Beast, setting the tone for a night of high-stakes cinematic entertainment as the remaining couples fought to secure their place in the next round of the competition.
