Josh Widdicombe has announced that his nine-month-old kitten Fluffball has died, just weeks after the death of his cat Beryl at the age of 11.
The new Strictly Come Dancing host, 43, spoke on his Parenting Hell podcast, which he co-hosts with Rob Beckett, about Fluffball’s death and the impact on his family – including wife Rose Hanson and their daughter, eight, and son, four.
After saying on last week’s episode that he was too sad to talk about her death, he announced on Tuesday’s episode of the show that she had been hit by a car.
He said, ‘I can’t deal with this, but let’s just turn it off. We only have one cat left. Fluffball was hit by a car on our road when we were in Cornwall. She was found by my neighbor. Grim. Two weeks after Beryl died…
‘Absolutely terrible times. I just can’t do it. I just can’t talk about it anymore.’
Can I message the lovely man Nick from Moorview Pet Cremation… He is so lovely. The vet put us in touch with him the first time. The second time I called him straight away.’
Josh Widdicombe has announced that his nine-month-old kitten Fluffball has died, just weeks after the death of his cat Beryl at the age of 11
After Beryl’s death last month, he announced the news via Instagram, writing: ‘Our beautiful cat Beryl passed away last week, absolutely heartbroken.
After Beryl’s death last month, he announced the news via Instagram, writing: ‘Our beautiful cat Beryl passed away last week, with a broken heart.
‘When we got her and Eddie 11 years ago I was a huge cat skeptic, now she has created a lifelong problem for me, I get way too emotionally attached to them and would love to have 10 of them (Rose doesn’t want that).
‘Beryl was an affectionate, laid-back and beautiful matriarch. A cat that would somehow always know if you were sad and would come visit you to make you feel better. Unfortunately we don’t have her around to do that today…
“I strongly considered not posting this because of my innate sense that grieving on social media is weird (especially since I know some people will think it’s just a cat)…
‘But I found myself having to repeatedly tell the people I saw last time that I was upset when they asked how my day/week/summer was, so this seemed like a way to hopefully stop that strange conversation…
‘RIP Beryl, with your kidney problems you really took the cat insurance to the cleaners.’
Following Fluffball’s death, Josh and fellow Strictly presenters Emma Willis and Johannes Radebe spoke about the upcoming series and revealed that there is more big shake-up in store for the show.
After saying on last week’s episode that he was too sad to talk about her death, he announced on Tuesday’s episode of the show that she had been hit by a car.
Josh is pictured with his wife Rose Hanson in 2024
Following Fluffball’s death, Josh and fellow Strictly presenters Emma Willis and Johannes Radebe spoke about the upcoming series and revealed that there is more big shake-up in store for the show.
In their first major interview since being unveiled as Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly’s replacements on the BBC’s flagship show, the presenters have explained how the new presentation format will work.
Emma, Josh and Strictly pro dancer Johannes explain that having three presenters was a ‘wildcard’ choice for producers and have admitted the format is still ‘very open’ just weeks before the live shows kick off.
“There’s no ‘like for like’ so no one is replacing anyone and it’s all very open at the moment,” Emma told The Rest Is Entertainment podcast.
“We have a lot of production days where we go in and play and kind of try each other out – well, they really get a feel for us.”
Josh added to podcast host Richard Osman: “It’s going to be like total football, Richard. We’re going to move everywhere.’
