With the first live show of this year’s Strictly Come Dancing taking place over the weekend, fans were keen to see how the new hosts would settle in – and according to body language expert Darren Stanton, one of the three stood out.
Whilst Emma Willis and Johannes Radebe seemed calm and comfortable, Stanton pointed to many signs of Josh Widdicombe’s ‘nerves’.
Speaking to UK online casino, Betfair Casino, he points to signs of fear in Widdicombe’s facial expressions, as well as consistent ‘self-soothing gestures’ throughout the episode.
Despite the wobbly start, Stanton notes his ‘bubbly and likeable character’, puts the nerves down to his lack of experience and feels he will ‘grow into the role as the series goes on’.
A little bit nervous
The body language expert said: “Josh Widdicombe came across as a little bit nervous throughout the episode.
“It’s probably the biggest show in the UK so it’s very important for him and these nerves are understandable.
“When he missed his mark, you can see he knows he messed up. There’s a micro-expression of fear when it happens.
“His mouth is slightly open, he tucks his head down into his shoulders, and his eyes widen.
“When the three presenters came out at the start of the show and they were dancing, Johannes was very comfortable because that’s his game. Emma Willis was also very comfortable. I think, out of all three of them, Josh is on the back foot slightly.
Self-soothing gesture
“When they were doing a piece to camera together the other two were using their hands and being quite animated as they delivered their lines, whereas Josh had one of his hands in his pocket.
“That is a self-soothing or pacifying gesture. Rather than simply looking at the facial expressions, we’re now starting to see a pattern in his whole body.
“You see more soothing gestures throughout the show.
“When speaking to the judges, you see Josh move his hands in front of his body. This is a protective gesture that again demonstrates his lack of comfort. It is something people do when they are feeling vulnerable.
“Emma is one of the UK’s most experienced presenters. Johannes has been on the show for years and is very comfortable doing live TV. Josh is the odd one out.
Bubbly character
“He’s not a dancer, he’s not a professional presenter in the same way Emma is, so out of the three, it is understandable that he would struggle in the early stages.
“Whilst he comes across as a very bubbly and likeable character, we potentially might see him struggle at certain times.
“But I think it may just have been first night nerves and he will grow into the role as the series goes on.
“His co-hosts seem to really get on with him and you can see that through their open and warm gestures.
“Once he shakes the nerves I think he will prove to be a great Strictly host.”
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