Josh Widdicombe has spoken about a major struggle at his Devon home as he prepares to co-host the Strictly Come Dancing launch show. Josh and his wife, producer Rose Hanson, have been renovating their £3million family home in Exeter. The work includes changing partitions and reopening a doorway.
The project hit problems earlier this year when the couple had to pause work after failing to get planning permission. A retrospective application confirmed the work had been immediately paused.
After finally getting permission, they were able to resume. And it seems the Widdicombe project is still very much in progress, with Josh noting they'd now moved into "phase two".
It comes as Josh prepares to host Strictly alongside Johannes Radebe and Emma Willis tonight, stepping in for Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.
Comedian Rob Beckett brought up the renovations on a recent episode of his and Josh's Parenting Hell podcast.
Rob said: "I was gonna ask a Strictly question. Well, there was a bit of chat about what will be finished first, your house or the first Strictly live show, because we're still doing this in a hotel room."
When asked how far off they were from completion, Josh said: "Phase two begins today". Rob called that a "political answer" that didn't answer his question. "All I will say, Rob", Josh continued, "is the house will be finished as soon as we can possibly finish it.
"So that we have every intention of completing the house on time and on budget." Asked whether the project would be done by Strictly's Halloween special in October, Josh said it wasn't the time to set "nebulous targets".
"What everyone wants is for the house to be done. And we are aware of that, and we are pushing…" he added. Rob said he couldn't remember a time when work wasn't underway on Josh's home.
Josh said: "I know; I feel like Kevin McCloud's (Grand Designs) going to show up. Like, also, we just found out the roof of the garage needs doing." Rob pointed out that he'd need a roof or it would be "just a bit of garden".
Josh continued: "I think we're going to keep the garage", as Rob joked he needed somewhere for his EV charger. Josh whispered: "I'm gonna have a pool table in the garage, Rob."
In related news, Josh recently said he would have "loved" to have competed in a full series of Strictly, having appeared once on the BBC show's Christmas special in 2024.
He told the Press Association and other outlets: "I think I’d have loved to do a full season of the show. That would have been thrilling… but let’s been (sic) honest, I wouldn’t have made it through the whole season."
Strictly Come Dancing's 24th series launches on BBC One tonight (September 19), from 7.25pm to 9.15pm.
Strictly Host Josh Widdicombe’s Devon Home Work Continues Ahead of Launch