The Last Leg Returns With Ellie Taylor After Josh Widdicombe’s Strictly Backlash

Josh Widdicombe will be back on Channel 4 this Friday night as The Last Leg returns for its 35th series, with Strictly Come Dancing fans getting another chance to judge his presenting skills — this time directly alongside Strictly: It Takes Two host Ellie Taylor.

Josh Widdicombe is heading back to familiar territory this Friday 16 October, as Channel 4’s satirical comedy show The Last Leg returns at 10.05pm, following a series of mixed reactions to his recent appearance on Strictly Come Dancing.

The comedian will reunite with Adam Hills and Alex Brooker for the 35th series of the award-winning entertainment programme, which promises its usual mix of topical humour, political discussion and irreverent takes on the week’s biggest stories.

However, Widdicombe’s return to the Channel 4 sofa comes after he faces criticism from some Strictly Come Dancing viewers and television critics over his presenting style and jokes during the BBC One dancing competition’s new series.

For fans who have questioned his performance on Strictly, Friday night’s edition of The Last Leg offers an opportunity to see the comedian back in the environment where he has built much of his television career.

There is also an awkward potential talking point waiting in the studio, with Strictly: It Takes Two presenter Ellie Taylor among the guests joining the trio live, alongside comedian and musician Tim Minchin. Fans will be keen to see whether Josh directly addresses the wave of criticism over the new Strictly presenting lineup, or not.

Josh Widdicombe Returns to His Comedy Comfort Zone

Widdicombe is best known to many viewers as one of the three presenters of The Last Leg, which he has co-hosted with Hills and Brooker since the programme began in 2012. The show has become a regular fixture of Channel 4’s entertainment schedule, combining stand-up comedy sensibilities with discussions of politics, current affairs and popular culture.

His recent involvement with Strictly Come Dancing, however, has brought him into a different television environment, where presenting a live entertainment competition requires a different rhythm and approach from the more informal, irreverent style of The Last Leg.

Some viewers have criticised his delivery and the reception of his jokes during the BBC One show’s latest series. The reaction has sparked debate among fans about whether his comedic approach translates successfully to the ballroom.

Friday’s return could therefore provide a welcome change of pace for Widdicombe, allowing him to return to the satirical format in which audiences have come to know him.

Rather than guiding contestants and celebrities through a dancing competition, he will once again be part of a team whose remit is to dissect the week’s news, challenge public figures and find humour in the stories dominating the headlines.

An Awkward Reunion With Strictly’s Ellie Taylor?

The presence of Ellie Taylor adds another layer of interest to the programme, which is known for roasting guests and its own hosts.

Taylor, who presents Strictly: It Takes Two, joins Widdicombe, Hills and Brooker in the studio alongside Tim Minchin. Her appearance brings a direct connection to the world of Strictly Come Dancing at a time when Widdicombe’s presenting performance has attracted criticism from some viewers.

Awkwardly, when Taylor appeared at the end of the first episode of the latest Strictly series, viewers bombarded social media with comments arguing she would have been best placed for the main presenting job and Widdicombe would’ve been more suited to the BBC Two companion show.

Taylor has established herself as a familiar face across British comedy and television, while her work on Strictly: It Takes Two places her firmly within the wider Strictly universe.

With The Last Leg known for its willingness to tackle topical talking points, viewers will be watching to see whether the latest series offers any playful references to the ballroom controversy.

What to Expect From The Last Leg Series 35

Hills, Widdicombe and Brooker return for the 35th series of the quadruple-BAFTA-nominated and multi-award-winning comedy chat show, bringing their distinctive take on current affairs back to Channel 4.

The programme has built its reputation on combining political satire with accessible comedy, inviting guests from entertainment, comedy and politics to discuss the stories making headlines.

As always, the show’s familiar hashtag, #isitok, will provide the starting point for the presenters to question, debate and dissect some of the week’s most talked-about events.

The format allows the trio to move between serious subjects and lighter entertainment stories, using sharp humour, spirited discussion and sketches to examine the news from their own distinctive perspective.

The show’s appeal lies in its willingness to question public figures and challenge conventional wisdom while keeping the discussion accessible to viewers who may not necessarily follow every political development.

Its live format also gives the presenters and guests an opportunity to respond to the stories dominating the news cycle, helping the programme maintain its reputation as a topical alternative to more traditional panel shows.

Adam Hills and Alex Brooker Complete the Line-Up

While Widdicombe’s recent television appearances may attract particular attention this week, the chemistry between all three presenters remains central to the show’s identity.

Australian comedian Adam Hills leads the line-up alongside Widdicombe and Brooker, whose distinctive perspectives and established rapport have helped make The Last Leg one of Channel 4’s best-known comedy programmes.

Across its run, the show has tackled subjects ranging from politics and international affairs to disability, entertainment and social issues, balancing satire with more serious conversations when the news demands it.

The programme’s combination of humour and discussion has earned it a loyal audience, as well as multiple award nominations and wins.

The return of the trio for another series reinforces Channel 4’s commitment to a format that brings current affairs and entertainment together in a live studio setting.

Tim Minchin Joins the Guests

Alongside Taylor, this week’s episode welcomes Tim Minchin, the Australian comedian, actor, musician and songwriter known for his musical comedy and work across stage and screen.

His appearance adds another established performer to a line-up that promises a lively mixture of humour, entertainment and discussion.

With two guests from different corners of the entertainment industry, the programme will have plenty of material to draw on as Hills, Widdicombe and Brooker turn their attention to the week’s biggest stories.

The live setting means the conversation can develop in response to the news and the guests’ contributions, maintaining the unpredictability that has become part of the show’s appeal.

When Is The Last Leg on Channel 4?

The Last Leg returns to Channel 4 this Friday at 10.05pm, with Adam Hills, Josh Widdicombe and Alex Brooker presenting the 35th series.

Ellie Taylor and Tim Minchin will join the trio live in the studio, as the programme once again delivers its satirical take on current affairs, politics and entertainment.

For Widdicombe, the return comes at an interesting moment in his television career. After facing criticism from some Strictly Come Dancing viewers, he will be back on familiar ground, surrounded by long-standing colleagues and a format built around his established comedic style.

Whether the show acknowledges the recent reaction to his presenting work remains to be seen. But with Taylor also, the episode has the ingredients for an intriguing night of live television.

One thing is certain: as the 35th series gets underway, The Last Leg will once again be asking its familiar question — #isitok?

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