The BBC show is searching for two new presenters after Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman announced they would be stepping down at the end of this series, with their final episode airing on Christmas Day
Strictly Come Dancing bosses are reported to be closing in on their favourite replacement hosts.
BBC chiefs are said to be locked in talks with Bradley Walsh and former Strictly star Alex Jones to take over as the show’s presenters which discussions said to be in their ‘final’ stage, after the current hosts, Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman announced they would be stepping down.
The current series is gearing up for its seventh week, but when it ends, Tess and Claudia will both leave the show. They announced this was their plan in September, in a joint statement made on Instagram.
Tess has been presenting the main show since it began in 2004. That same year, Claudia started to present the spin-off show, It Takes Two. In 2011, Claudia began co-hosting the results show, and in 2014, she took over from Bruce Forsyth on the main show.
READ MORE: FitFlop’s ‘wonderfully comfortable’ waterproof walking boots are ‘fantastic on icy streets’READ MORE: Strictly’s Vito Coppola and Ellie Goldstein share major update after show exit
Since they announced their exit, the BBC have had to find new presenters for next year’s series. It was reported on 3 November that the corporation was in talks with Bradley and Alex. Those talks are now said to be in their final stages.
An insider told The Sun that the talks are “moving in a really positive direction” and added that Bradley and Alex are “both favourites to take over from Tess and Claudia”. “They have been in the BBC’s sights for some time,” the source revealed.
Alex has some Strictly experience, having competed on the show in 2011. She was partnered with James Jordan and reached the semi-final. Bradley has not competed on the show, but is hugely popular as the presenter of Gladiators.
Several other names were favourites to take over the reins as Strictly’s presenters. Recently, Holly Willoughby was tipped to join the show. Peter Fincham, who was the director of the BBC from 2005 to 2007, said he is sure that “Holly Willoughby will take over”.
Fans, meanwhile, have been calling for La Voix to do the gig. The Drag Race star is currently competing on the show, but in various segments has tried her hand at presenting and made jokes about sending her CV to the BBC. Fans loved these little bits and took to social media to insist La Voix return as a presenter next year.
One said: “GIVE LA VOIX THE BLOODY PRESENTING JOB!” and another said: “Obsessed with La Voix’s on going campaign to get the hosting job for strictly next year” A third said: “La Voix nailed the presenting there.”
Tess and Claudia announced in September that they would be stepping down at the end of this year’s series. Their final episode will be aired on Christmas Day.
In their first appearance on the show since making the announcement, the two addressed their exit. Claudia said: “We have, we’re so lucky to have been part of this amazing show and we just want to thank the Strictly team because Strictly is the people who make it so thank you…” Tess agreed: “They are the very best team in television we’ve been so lucky.
“And the audience as well, they’ve been so wonderful. They’ve been with us for this entire journey of 21 years and we wouldn’t have a show without them and they’ve been just so loyal and supportive.”
Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok , Snapchat , Instagram , Twitter , Facebook , YouTube and Threads .
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: mirror.co.uk
