Celebrity Gogglebox star Josh Widdicombe's life - from rarely-seen wife to famous family member

Comedian Josh Widdicombe is set to appear on the latest celebrity series of Gogglebox, but away from the cameras he lives a very private life with his wife and children

He's a familiar face on the stand-up circuit and a regular on The Last Leg, but now Josh Widdicombe is taking on a fresh challenge as he joins the ranks of Celebrity Gogglebox. The comic will be sharing his thoughts on the week's TV alongside Stephen Merchant for the Channel 4 hit, all in support of Stand Up to Cancer, reports OK!.

"Stand Up to Cancer is an incredible cause so I am honoured to be involved. I love Stephen and particularly like working with him when we are sitting down so I don't look like a hobbit next to him," Josh said about joining the show.

But it's not just Josh who's making waves in television. His wife, Rose Hanson, is a powerhouse behind the scenes. As a seasoned producer, she's contributed her talents to comedy gems such as 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown and Live at the Apollo. The couple, who wed in 2019, both have found success in the industry and Rose has worked on projects ranging from research for the legendary Never Mind the Buzzcocks to production assistance for household names like Alan Carr: Chatty Man and Would I Lie To You?

And for those who fondly remember the puppet shenanigans of the 80s children's classic Rainbow, Rose's entertainment roots run deep – her mother was the creative force behind the beloved puppet Zippy. Josh got candid with Rob Brydon on his podcast, sharing a unique story that intertwines his career and family life. "I'd be lying if I said that hadn't crossed my mind at points in the sense there's an obvious comparison to be made," he said.

He went on to muse about the bizarre possibility of life imitating art, adding: "And then the thought of your mum creating a fictional character that you then, not end up marrying, but if there's a Hollywood movie and it turned out that Zippy had been made into a human, and then it was me, it wouldn't be outlandish."

Josh and his wife Rose have been enjoying marital bliss for five years and are doting parents to their two young children – Pearl, who was born in October 2017, and Cassius, who joined the family in May 2021. The comedian often shares insights into their parenting journey on his podcast Parenting Hell, which he hosts alongside fellow comedian Rob Beckett.

In a particularly moving episode, Josh opened up about the couple's painful experience with miscarriage. "The reason I haven't spoken about it is because when Rose was pregnant which came after the miscarriage, you feel like - I know this sounds mad - but you don't want to tempt fate," he revealed. "I was just like, 'I just want to get to the end of this.' I didn't feel like I wanted say, 'but now we've got a happy ending because we're pregnant again', because you still feel like you're part of it."

Josh also delved into the relentless anxiety following a miscarriage, explaining, "When you're pregnant after a miscarriage, every day feels perilous, like it could go wrong in the way you just don't feel before."

He has also spoken on his podcast about his journey to sobriety, celebrating a year without alcohol. Via an Instagram post, the celeb made light-hearted comments about his choice to commemorate the milestone with some introspection online.