Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman paused Saturday evening’s Icons Week episode of Strictly Come Dancing to acknowledge their forthcoming departure from the programme.
The presenting pair addressed viewers moments after the show began, marking their first live broadcast since revealing on Thursday that they would be stepping down.
Following Claudia’s introduction about couples honouring music legends, Tess interrupted the programme’s usual flow.
“Just before we get started, Claud and I announced this week that this will be our last series of Strictly Come Dancing,” she told viewers.
Tess and Claudia announced their exit on Thursday
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PAThe studio audience responded with audible groans as the hosts delivered their message.
The brief interruption came before the judges were welcomed onto the stage to Tom Jones’ It’s Not Unusual.
Claudia expressed gratitude for the public’s response, stating: “We want to thank you for your beautiful messages.”
She reassured viewers that eight weeks remained in the current series with a champion still to be crowned.
Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly addressed their upcoming exit
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BBC
Ms Daly emphasised their enthusiasm for the remaining episodes, declaring: “We cannot wait to spend the rest of the series with you, with our amazing couples and, of course, with these four.” She then proceeded to introduce the judging panel.
The presenters’ on-air acknowledgement followed their Thursday revelation via social media.
In their Instagram announcement, the duo had stated: “We have loved working as a duo and hosting Strictly has been an absolute dream. We were always going to leave together and now feels like the right time.”
Their joint statement revealed deep appreciation for their time on the programme.
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“We will have the greatest rest of this amazing series and we just want to say an enormous thank you to the BBC and to every single person who works on the show. They’re the most brilliant team and we’ll miss them every day,” they wrote.
The pair acknowledged the emotional impact of their departure, adding: “We will cry when we say the last ‘keep dancing’ but we will continue to say it to each other. Just possibly in tracksuit bottoms at home while holding some pizza.”
Their Thursday video announcement showed them seated together, with Claudia beginning: “Hi it’s Claud and Tess. There have been some rumblings and we want you to hear this from us…”
Tess has presented the BBC dance competition since its inception in 2004, initially alongside the late Bruce Forsyth.
Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly will be leaving Strictly after the current series
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BBC
During their video announcement, she reflected on her tenure, saying: “2004 with Brucey – lovely Bruce. That’s over two decades ago and a lot of that time has been with you.”
Claudia became her co-presenter on the main programme in 2014, having previously fronted both the Sunday results show and Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two.
Their partnership created television history as the first female duo to host a primetime entertainment programme.The presenters noted how the show had spanned their children’s lives from infancy to young adulthood. They praised the programme’s loyal viewers, with Tess acknowledging they “wouldn’t have a show without them.”