ALTHOUGH the vibe of Strictly Come Dancing is upbeat when it airs each Saturday night – behind the scenes there seems to be some secret tension between two of the hosts.
Fans have spotted a telling clue that all is not jolly backstage after a telling change occurred last weekend.
Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe have been at the helm of the BBC show since this series started last month, replacing long-time hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly.
But on Saturday, Johannes made a subtle change to the way he presents the programme – sparking rumours of friction.
When the series kicked off, Johannes was heard calling Josh a sweet pet name.
Everytime he would link back to the dancefloor from his spot on the balcony, he would enthusiastically hand back to “Emma and Joshy”.
Read More about Strictly
‘WHY CHEAT?’
Strictly’s Ola Jordan hits out with posts about ‘cheating men’ after split
BALLAS BACKLASH
Shirley Ballas forced to defend herself after she’s hit by backlash on DWTS
But last weekend, Johannes appeared to ditch calling the comedian “Joshy” for the majority of the show, bar the odd slip of the tongue where he said the pet name twice.
Him ditching “Joshy” from his links was very apparent, so much so that fans at home picked up on it instantly.
“So glad Johannes isn’t calling Josh, Joshy this week. I wonder if Josh told him to stop or the public didn’t like it,” said one person.
Another person also wrote: “The producers have clearly told Johannes to stop calling Josh Widdicombe ‘Joshy’.”
In previous weeks, fans noticed Johannes’ pet name for Josh, with one writing: “Don’t even get me started on Johanne’s constant insistence on calling Josh ‘Joshy’.”
While another said: “His name is Josh….. not Joshy!!!”
Whether production told Johannes to ditch the pet name, or Josh asked him to stop calling him ‘Joshy’ remains to be seen, but we can exclusively reveal that there appears to be tension backstage.
Speaking exclusively to The Sun on behalf of Paddy Power Bingo, body language expert Judi James has revealed this could be a sign of Johannes “wisely setting off for one of the lifeboats to save his own hosting career”.
She noted: “When Johannes sits with Josh there is little if any mirroring or exchanged eye contact.
“They don’t ‘share’ the conversation and Johannes now looks so much closer to the dancers, often turning to talk, so that his back is facing Josh and not using any non-verbal conversational signals when Josh speaks to the others.”
Touching on the pet name, Judi explained that Johannes has attempted to help Josh since the show started.
“The biggest sign of Johannes’s ‘help’ for Josh in terms of making the comic a longer-term Strictly legend was the way he gave him his nickname ‘Joshy’.
“This was a cute and affectionate-sounding move that would also imply familiarity between the two men as well as between Josh and the viewers.
“A nickname suggests friendship behind the scenes and a sense of teamwork and ‘family’. It always sounded like Johannes’s own invention, but it has now appeared to have been surgically removed from their presenting routines.”
She added that the problem with an affectionate-sounding nickname “is that the impact of ceasing to use it is much greater than choosing to use it in the first place”.
“The implication is of forged friendship or bonds that have suddenly been lost or broken.
As to where the call to drop the nickname comes from, Judi tells us that “it might possibly have been Josh himself”.
“If so it would send proper chills down the spine, as asking someone who is using an affectionate term to stop using it would usually compromise any relationship,” she explains.
While tensions may be simmering between Johannes and Josh, it seems the former show dancer has found a perfect match in Emma on-screen.
“Johannes and Emma are finding it very easy to synchronize their body language and their performances on screen,” Judi adds in contrast.
“Emma’s eye expression when she turns to communicate with Johannes suggests she is happy and relaxed with the easier ‘fit’.
“But the more the pair start to fly in terms of congruent performance, the more the artist previously known as ‘Joshy’ will look like a spare.”
The Sun has reached out to Strictly for comment.
