Movie Week has come and gone in a blur of madness but now the dust has settled a new verdict is emerging on hosts Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe, says Jamie Downham.
Josh Widdicombe was hoisted into the air on Saturday’s Strictly Come Dancing(Image: Guy Levy/BBC/PA Wire)
Early Strictly episodes are always long. Tonight’s was 2hrs 35mins without breaks. It’s great fun but it’s also like being waterboarded with dance.
There was the usual chaos that makes this show so enduring: we had misbehaving cameras, a shock demotion for John Nellis, and West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen appearing on screen so often you’d swear he was about to deliver a withering verdict on the American Smooth.
It was Movie Week so the weirdness was at its maximum ‘cheese dream’ setting. TV dog trainer Graeme Hall inhabited his role as The Godfather so completely you fear Anton DuBeke could have a horse’s head on his pillow in the morning after delivering the lowest score.
Shaun Wright Phillips strutted down a suburban London street past an estate agents to the strains of Saturday Night Fever while eating half a croissant. Celebrity hairdresser Chris Appleton did Baywatch and, whoops, his top fell open and what do you know: he has abs you could grate cheddar on.
But away from the madness there is the ongoing question about the hosts and many have pointed to a big improvement this week among the trio brought in to replace Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly.
Of course, Emma Willis – a veteran of the live telly trenches – was pitch-perfect. At one point she turned to Jowita Przystał who was dressed as a giant rodent for her Rataouille dance with Lawrence Robb and said: “A beautiful rat. If they all looked like you the world would be a better place.”
A simple throwaway line but it’s the easy fun the show needs (and which Claudia did so well).
It felt like producers had worked harder on fun stuff for Josh Widdicombe to do, too. Some of his scripted lines are still impossibly laboured. There was one about Shaun doing the Salsa, the dance, and also holding some Salsa, the dip. You can identify such things are jokes, but you’re not very likely to laugh.
However, there was more of the quick-witted charm you get from Josh when he’s on podcasts and not under the unforgiving glare of a TV show that millions have held dear for decades.
The banter with the judges was better. When he was hoisted into the air on a Mary Poppins umbrella in an elaborate visual gag, Emma was laughing before he’d even left the ground.
Johannes Radebe – up in what was once known as the Clauditorium – had a better show too according to many. He’s good with the emotional stuff. If anyone gets teary, Johannes does too. If it was ITV, Kleenex could sponsor.
Will they silence all their critics? Of course not, this is Britain and moaning about TV shows is one of our most treasured pastimes, but social media has been awash with people saying they thought that Emma, Josh and Johannes did well.
One viewer wrote: “Honestly I can’t believe I am saying this but for me the 3 presenters worked tonight. Emma the queen of course smashed it. Johannes I felt calmed it down from last week and Josh was a lot more relaxed. It’s early days but I feel the guys are growing into their roles.”
Another said: “Much better tonight. Johannes was a natural upstairs – feels safe in his hands. Need to stop the constant comedy between Emma and Josh. Both are seasoned pros and Emma is a perfect host.”
Delta Goodrem and Kai Widdrington are currently top of the table with 59 points at the end of Movie Week. They rose up the ranks with their A Star Is Born dance, but it’s nice to think the hosting trio could be on the up too.
An emotional redemption story where an under-fire team pulls together and delivers. It could only happen in the Movies.
