The all-female presenting duo have been at the helm of the iconic BBC reality dance series for more than a decade but the signs were there for Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman to announce their departure
Fans of Strictly Come Dancing have today been left reeling at the news Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman are quitting the show.
In a joint statement, the presenters revealed: “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.
“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.”
Looking back at recent events for the two stars and the show itself, the hints were there – The Mirror takes a look at five signs the announcement was coming…
READ MORE: Strictly Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman’s Strictly replacement favourite named
Tess’s weekend wish
Presenter Tess, who is married to Vernon Kay with daughters Phoebe, 20, and Amber, 16, recently told the Happy Mum Happy Baby podcast she was looking forward to more time to socialise at the weekend as her children grew older. Could she also have been referring to her plans to quit her weekend gig?
“I could be on weekend breaks with my girlfriends to Ibiza,” said the star. “How about that? I might be back dancing on podiums.
“If I’ve worked for a day or two, then I’m like, now this time I need to do more for them because I was absent here,” the presenter said about juggling work with being a mum. “So I’m always trying to make up for that. So if I, you know, remove them from that picture. Yeah, I don’t know. I mean, it could be quite lovely. Could be really great.”
Claudia’s growing popularity
Claudia is married to film producer Kris Thykier, with children Jake, 21, Matilda, 18, and Arthur, 13. Onscreen, her profile has been rising in impressive fashion in recent years thanks to the hugely successful BBC game show The Traitors and The Celebrity Traitors and Channel 4’s The Piano.
Nearly two years ago, The Sun reported the presenter could be offered at least £500,000 to front shows on ITV and it’s clear she’s much in demand. Could she be stepping down from Strictly in favour of a new bombshell project?
The rumours
Closer Magazine recently reported that Strictly bosses were anxious Claudia could leave the show, particularly in view of recent Strictly scandals. “She’s the face the public trusts,” said the publication. “She’s hugely popular, and they know she’s the safest pair of hands they’ve got.
“But the truth is, she’s under enormous pressure and fears are growing that it could all lead to her quitting the show.”
The scandal
Strictly has been struck by unwelcome headlines in recent years – could these have affected the high-profile stars decision to leave?
The unsavoury scandals have included bullying and misconduct allegations against former dancer Giovanni Pernice in 2024 and claims that former pro Graziano di Prima mistreated his 2023 Strictly partner Zara McDermott, both of which were denied.
At the start of this year, opera singer turned contestant Wynne Evans apologised for making an “inappropriate and unacceptable” sexual remark during the show’s live tour launch. The star’s BBC Radio Wales contract was not renewed in May.
The timing
Tess is celebrating her 21st year hosting Strictly this season, which she might well see as a good milestone to bow out on…
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