Comedian Rob Beckett reveals new Strictly host Josh Widdicombe's pre-show 'glow up'

Yeah, I did message him, and it was quite funny… I went, 'Any advice?' [He said] 'Look really guilty and laugh when people get murdered and swear loads'. He's brilliant, he's a worthy winner.

Well, not really, no. I'm very honest and I'm not well practiced in lying. I'm quite happy to say what I think, much to the panic of my agent. We loved watching the first series, so it was very exciting to be asked.

Not really, we're not competitive like that. We're all quite supportive and complimentary of each other's styles, and because we're all very different. It was all hilarious in there, so there wasn't any competing like that.

They've definitely got personality; they're naturally fun and silly. We're quite a chatty family. They'll come back from a play date sometimes and be like, 'It's quite quiet there'. I'm like, 'No, we're loud'.

We hang around with Tom Allen and met Alan Carr; we've been to his house. So not only are they around other sort of loud personalities, but these are also some of the funniest people the country has ever produced.

Yes, I absolutely love it.

I've got four brothers and I've got loads of uncles. Because I had so many boys in the house and it was all male-driven, I feel like I've missed out on a lot of life. There's a whole other gender with stuff going on. Now I'm seeing the world a little bit more through female eyes.

We're having nail growing competitions with the girls because one of them bites her nails. I've started painting my nails with stuff that makes them harder. Before a holiday, we sometimes as a family go and get manicures.

I can now. Not very fast, but I can do it. I couldn't do it [before] because it's three bits you need. I was doing it with two and it kept on falling out.

No, they don't. I think they might have [heard] snippets or friends have told them stuff their parents heard on it, but not really, no. They know I do a podcast.

Years ago, when they were really young, they had a wand from Harry Potter and one was doing magic tricks or stabbing the wand in the box and getting the other one. I was like, 'It's dangerous', and I was telling that story [on the podcast]. Then one of my daughters went: 'Dad, you said on your podcast that I was hurting my sister and I wasn't, we were playing magic'. I was like, 'Oh no, it's no joke'. They understand it a little bit more now.

We'll have to see, but they'll always come first before the podcast. Whatever they don't want me to say, I won't say.

People showing off about their kids. It's horrendous. 'Oh my God, look how well she's reading…'

I don't mind it when they say, 'My 18-month-old can say this or walk' because I'm like, 'Look, you're a new parent, that's fine', but when they're banging on about their 12-year-old doing this or that, I'm like, 'Oh my God, you're horrific, aren't you?'

I'm trying to slow down a little bit of work so Lou's can crack on with her career, and I'll be at home a bit more. That's the plan, but I keep going out.

No, not a stay-at-home dad, but not being away. Last year I was in hotel rooms 180 nights a year, which are brilliant - especially when you've got a pillow menu at the Holiday Inn Express and free hot breakfast, blackout curtains and soundproofing - but I want to be a bit more present at home with the kids and I think that's quite important because the career will always be there.

I've done bits and bobs, like I was in Cinderella and Fresh Meat, but I've always been too busy, so this little slowdown that I've got coming up in the autumn into next year is creating space. That's definitely something I'd like to do a bit more of.

I think I could play a good East End villain type guy… not the cheeky chappy me but channel a slightly more aggressive darkening that I think would be quite interesting to watch because it's not what people are used to. I'd like to do that, so if Guy Ritchie reads…

No, not for me. Josh gets very persuasive. They don't change the fee, do they? It's a set fee. I'd be doing it for the money. If you saw me on that, something's gone wrong and I need the money.

And the same as the jungle. I'd do that if I needed the money. I'd be like, 'I'm eating this kangaroo boll*** because I misjudged my tax'.  Let's be honest, I'm not here for a journey, I'm not here for a career relaunch, I'm skint.

Lou would love to do Strictly. I think she'd be great on it.

What I found weird is how everyone's very strict with what they do, but no one's agreeing - even in marriages or relationships - and everyone's stuck in particular ways.

If you talk to someone about having a cup of tea and milk, you could talk for about an hour and never agree. I don't like tea. I don't like coffee, but I need it to survive.

The only reason people like tea is because you're offered it at a new job or at someone's house, and then you want to be polite because they're British, and they'll go, 'Oh, tea please', and you end up having a tea. Then you're hooked in. I think it tastes of dirt.

What's great about The Great Wake Up Debate is everyone's got their own opinions and they're all welcome at Holiday Inn Express.

People are very particular about their side of the bed.

I don't know if it's out of habit or necessity, but when I stay in a hotel, I will just sleep on one side of the bed - the same side I sleep [at home] - even when I'm on my own. But why not spread and go full starfish?

What Lou and I have is a slight power play situation.

I'll set my alarm for 6:45, but then Lou will get up earlier and make noise around me to sort of imply, 'Are you sleeping in? Are you, lazy [expletive]?' I'm like, 'Well no, actually we did agree 6:45'.

I think you want to be up before the kids because if you're not, then they've got a position of power over you, because they've already switched on.