Joshy Michael Widdicombe was born in Hammersmith,. London on 8 April 1983 and has an elder brother Henry, who is a comedy promoter. Brought up in Devon Josh attended South Dartmoor Community College before reading linguistics at Manchester University and going into journalism. In 2008 whilst working as a reporter for the Guardian newspaper Josh began performing as a stand up comedian and made it to the So You Think You're Funny finals at the Edinburgh Fringe festival, the same year writing the sketch show, 'Superclump'. In 2011 he was nominated for the Best Newcomer at the Edinburgh comedy awards but became widely known the following year through his television appearances in 'Mock the Week, 'Stand Up For the Week', and 'The Last Leg', subsequently becoming one of the most prolific young British comedians with his appearances on the Dave Channel panel game 'Task Master' and in 2015 his own, self-penned sitcom 'Josh' featuring himself as a hapless flat sharer. In 2013 Josh also won the TV quiz 'Celebrity Mastermind', answering specialist subject questions on the band Blur and donating his winnings to The Lily Foundation, which helps sufferers from Mitochondial disease.