Josh Widdicombe will be one of the new Strictly Come Dancing presenters, and the comedian admitted he had to keep the huge news a secret from some of the people closest to him11:54, 22 May 2026Comedian Josh Widdicombe is one of the new Strictly Come Dancing presenters, and it comes as a huge relief as he admits it has caused an issue at home.‌There had been intense speculation about how would replace the iconic Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, and that was put to bed this week when Josh, Emma Willis and dancer Johannes Radebe would be the new presenting team.‌In the lead-up to the official announcement, Josh faced questions from his loved ones about whether he was going to secure the coveted gig. But he was forced to lie before the BBC announced the big news officially - including to his family.‌Speaking on his Parenting Hell podcast, which he co-hosts with fellow comedian Rob Beckett, he said: "I'm glad it's out there because I've been lying to people."Rob then joked that his friend "lied on Good Morning Britain". Josh appeared on the ITV show hours before the official announcement but refused to confirm whether he was the new Strictly host.‌Josh responded: "I didn't lie on Good Morning Britain. I evaded questions," before Rob quipped: "You acted like a politician."It wasn't just on national TV where the 43-year-old refused to spill the beans. He also kept his two kids, daughter Pearl, eight, and son Cassius, five, in the dark about the truth.He shares the children with TV producer wife Rose Hanson and couldn't trust them to keep the huge news to themselves.‌Josh told the podcast: "This is being recorded when the news has just come out. I've got to go and get them from school in a bit and I'll tell them."Because I couldn't trust them. You just simply can't trust them. You don't leave an eight-year-old and go: 'You simply can't tell anyone this, because that's unfair, so I haven't told them."So I'm going to go and pick them up from school and my son won't really, I think with my daughter the truth is, it's not going to feel as wild to her."‌Josh competed in Strictly's Christmas Special in 2024, joining other celebs including podcaster Vogue Williams and former EastEnders actress Tamzin Outhwaite. He danced the charleston with professional dancer Karen Hauer while dressed as a penguin.He said of his new job: "I am giddy with excitement, honoured and a little overawed to be given the chance into the biggest shoes on television."Article continues belowThe presenter recently made a huge family move which will have a big impact on his new role. Last year he moved his family to Exeter, in his native Devon, which is almost 200 miles away from Elstree Studios in Borehamwood, where Strictly is filmed.Josh said about the move: "We looked [at] it on Rightmove for about a month. Why don't we go down there, look at the school that's on the road. We really like it."