Following the news that Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman will soon be leaving their roles as the faces of Strictly Come Dancing, the rumour mill has gone into overdrive as to who will take over.
Both presenters have been stalwarts in the ballroom since the show’s inception in 2004, with Ms Daly fronting the show from the very beginning alongside Bruce Forsyth and Ms Winkleman overseeing sister show It Takes Two.
Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman are leaving Strictly
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BBCInevitably, tributes and farewell messages have poured in from far and wide, with Strictly stars past and present among those wishing the duo the best of luck for the future.
Even Ms Daly’s husband, Vernon Kay, took to Instagram to share a heartfelt tribute to his other half following the announcement.
However, even though the two will remain on the series until the end of its current run, speculation has already begun as to who will take over in 2026.
As such, bookmakers everywhere have been weighing up the likeliest of candidates, and some very familiar faces could soon be stepping into the dancing shoes left by Ms Daly and Ms Winkleman.
Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman have both been part of the Strictly world since 2004
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GETTYAccording to Paddy Power Games, for instance, It Takes Two presenters Fleur East (2/1) and Janette Manrara (7/2) are among the frontrunners to switch over to the flagship series.
However, they’re not the outright favourite for the role, with BBC fan-favourite and The One Show star Roman Kemp leading the pack at 7/4.
Elsewhere, the bookmakers have also put favourable odds on Rylan Clark (9/2), Alison Hammond (8/1), and Emma Willis (8/1) to come on board.
Among the outsiders for the gig are names such as Maura Higgins (12/1) and ITV darlings Ant & Dec (20/1).
BBC Strictly hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly announced the decision on Thursday
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BBCBut there are some other big names emerging elsewhere in the market. Speaking on behalf of Megaways Slots provider Spin Genie, Celebrity PR Specialist Kayley Cornelius highlighted two other big names who could be poised to take over.
She said: “Current odds suggest that power couple and former Strictly Come Dancing champions Stacey Dooley and Kevin Clifton lead the market to take over hosting duties, both priced at 2/1.
“Since their memorable win in 2018, the pair have remained closely connected to the show, and with their weekly rundowns of this year’s series on their Substack, they strike the perfect balance between being qualified, passionate, and in tune with the Strictly audience.
“Also high on the list are GK Barry and Rylan Clark, both at 7/4, who continue to prove popular with fans thanks to their charisma and quick wit – qualities that would no doubt translate well to the Strictly ballroom.
Tess Daly (left) has fronted the flagship series for 21 years
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BBC“Elsewhere in the market, Alex Jones at 4/1 and Gethin Jones at 9/2 are both strong BBC favourites with plenty of presenting experience, while Fleur East at 5/2, Janette Manrara at 3/1, Karen Hauer at 7/2 and Roman Kemp at 6/1 also feature among the potential contenders should the BBC decide to shake things up with a fresh-faced lineup.”
The BBC is yet to make an official announcement regarding next year’s series, but several of the show’s bosses have spoken out about Ms Daly and Ms Winkleman’s imminent departures.
Kate Phillips, Chief Content Officer for the BBC, said in a statement: “I can’t quite believe I’m saying this, but it’s the end of an era with Tess and Claudia’s decision to bid farewell to the Strictly ballroom.
“They’ve both been such incredible hosts at the very heart of the show; their passion and dedication have gone above and beyond. They’ve been integral to Strictly’s success over the last 20 years, but I understand why they’ve decided it’s time to hang up the glitter ball and get their weekends back.
Tess Daly and Bruce Forsyth were the first hosts of the show
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BBC“As Craig would say they are fab-u-lous presenters, and they are fab-u-lous friends to me and so many others at the BBC. Thank you, Tess and Claud, for everything, we will miss you hugely.”
Elsewhere, Suzy Lamb, Managing Director, Entertainment, BBC Studios, echoed: “On behalf of the entire production team at Strictly, we are so going to miss Tess and Claudia. Tess brought elegance, poise, and a genuine love for the show that never waned from the very start.
“And with Claudia’s charm and razor-sharp wit joining us from It Takes Two in 2014 – it cemented a partnership that has kept our audience captivated ever since.
“Tess and Claudia are much more than presenters to us – they are part of the Strictly production family – and whilst we’ll miss them dearly, we wish them nothing but the best.”
And Sarah James, Executive Producer of Strictly Come Dancing, said: “Tess and Claudia are quite simply the best duo of presenters in the business and we are so lucky to have had them as our Strictly anchors for so many years.
“They have championed countless celebrities on the dancefloor, led us all through two series during the pandemic, but more importantly, they have a deep and genuine bond with the show and every single member of the team.
“The Strictly Family is often referred to, and these women are the matriarchs of that family. We have been together and supported each other for a long time – through pregnancies, births, and deaths, and to say we will all miss them terribly is an understatement.
“Tess, Claudia, THANK YOU for everything, it’s not over yet – let’s enjoy the rest of this fabulous series together. I would say Keep Dancing, but you never actually started!”