Josh Widdicombe is perfect for woke BBC Strictly execs but is exactly why the show is waltzing to its demise

"I can't quite comprehend it," Willis said once the news broke after months of tiptoeing around whether or not she was interested in the role.

"I’m ready... sequins, nerves, and all... please bear with me," Radebe pleaded as he spoke out on the appointment.

Meanwhile, Mr Widdicombe added he was "giddy with excitement, honoured and a little overawed to be given the chance to step into the biggest shoes in television".

How exactly the trio will line up once Strictly returns to screens in autumn remains to be seen, although it's likely Willis will steer the ship a-la-Daly, while Widdicombe is expected to provide the comic relief previously offered by Winkleman.

Radebe's role, meanwhile, is somewhat of a mystery, especially given just weeks earlier he'd been unveiled as one of the professional dancers who survived the BBC show's cut-throat cull of talent.

In whatever form he returns, Radebe has cemented himself as a beloved part of the Strictly make-up. And Willis is inarguably one of TV's most professional and competent hosts going.

Who could forget her famous grilling of soap star Roxanne Pallett following the actress's absurd Ryan Thomas accusations on Big Brother?

Not many presenters on TV right now can stare into the soul of their interviewee as she did that day, while still possessing the warmth and welcoming demeanour that makes Hollywood A-listers feel at home on the This Morning sofa.

She's a great choice. Maybe a little safe, but nevertheless, a great choice.

Which is why it's so baffling to many - not just me, just take a look at social media - why comedian Widdicombe was chosen as her co-star.

He's far from a safe choice by bosses, but not in an edgy, pushing-the-boundaries kind of way.

More in a 'we're so desperate for the most bland brand of comedy that we're going to give one of TV's biggest gigs to a lefty comic with barely any experience in live presenting' kind of way.

Many may point to Widdicombe's role on Channel 4's Trump-bashing, past-its-sell-by-date The Last Leg as evidence of his live hosting credentials, but they'd be mistaken.

It is Aussie comedian Adam Hills who does most of the heavy lifting on that show, and on the rare occasion Widdicombe was tasked with steering the ship, it sank so badly that even OceanGate bosses would wince.

And even Widdicombe himself regularly points to a live appearance on the BBC's This Week as proof of his own incompetence in front of TV cameras when the pressure's on.

Faced with Andrew Neil, Widdicombe floundered as he desperately tried to shoehorn his inoffensive brand of comedy into a conversation about accents in the workplace.

Never has a glass of water been sipped so often.

His CV does boast a number of roles away from live presenting, however. Although there is a clear theme throughout.

Inevitably, there are stints on the likes of Live at the Apollo, Mock the Week, 8 Out of 10 Cats, and The Wheel, among others, on his resume. All staples of a working comic's schedule.

But among the shows in which Widdicombe takes centre stage are Hypothetical with James Acaster and Hold the Front Page with Nish Kumar, to name a few.

Two co-hosts whose audiences, when they're not gluing themselves to roads, are dying their hair a different colour of the rainbow and arguing with a bot on X about why "globalise the intifada" is a chant of peace.

He's an advocate for Zack Polanski's wealth taxes and during a recent appearance on The Last Leg, was left so enamoured by The Green Party leader that even a Cheshire Cat would've thought his cheeks must've hurt.

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Widdicombe is entirely entitled to whatever political leanings he chooses, and to some extent, I'd argue it shouldn't matter when it comes to a gig like this.

But why it's relevant is that it shows BBC bosses were so desperate to go for the most politically correct, left-leaning, vanilla option available on the market. And that could spell Strictly's downfall.

Ratings have been dwindling for years. The format has felt stale. The gags fall flat. And Craig Revel Horwood's criticisms have been watered down so much that they barely leave a mark.

This was the perfect chance to give Strictly a bit of edge and re-establish itself as the biggest show on TV. It could've pushed the boundary as to 'what X might say next', or, 'Can you believe Y just did that?'

There was a reason Chris McCausland resonated with viewers. Of course, his incredible achievements on the dancefloor as a blind contestant wowed everyone, but he did it with a brand of humour that left co-stars "ooo-ing" many a time, while remaining suitable for Saturday night viewing.

The same could be said for La Voix last year. Yes, at times, the punchlines were so blatant that eyes were already rolling before they arrived. But La Voix left Daly and Winkleman wondering what on earth they were going to say next.

That barbed, unpredictable, and self-deprecatory approach is indicative of wider British humour, not just the Waitrose aisles where Widdicombe draws wry smiles.

I'd previously written why Rylan Clark and Hannah Waddingham would've been the perfect duo, and I stand by it. Although Willis is a more than competent alternative to the Ted Lasso star.

But even Clark has a bit of an edge. His decision to question the country's immigration policy on This Morning rather than be another nodding, vapid mouthpiece proved it.

After a scandal-hit few years, it is no surprise that the BBC has opted for the squeakiest of clean faces.

But after haemorrhaging viewers year after year, I haven't seen a single tweet or Reddit post from anyone suggesting this new-look line-up will convince them to come back.

The BBC needed something original, fresh, and with a kick to convince the population that Strictly still had a spring in its step after over two decades on air.

Instead, it's more of the same, and come the winter, conversations surrounding Strictly's future and the need for a revamp will rear their heads again - and Mr Widdicombe will bear the brunt of it.