{"id":319222,"date":"2025-11-30T20:26:11","date_gmt":"2025-11-30T20:26:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/319222\/"},"modified":"2025-11-30T20:26:11","modified_gmt":"2025-11-30T20:26:11","slug":"bradley-walsh-fuels-bbc-strictly-host-rumours-with-unexpected-backstage-appearance","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/319222\/","title":{"rendered":"Bradley Walsh fuels BBC Strictly host rumours with unexpected backstage appearance"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bradley Walsh has intensified speculation about becoming Strictly Come Dancing’s next host following a surprise appearance at the programme’s Elstree Studios set on Friday.<\/p>\n

The 65-year-old visited the BBC production during a break from recording The Chase, which films at the adjacent studio, sparking widespread discussion about his potential role in replacing departing presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.<\/p>\n

The TV personality\u2019s unexpected appearance comes amid reports that he is engaged in advanced negotiations to take over presenting duties for the flagship Saturday night programme.<\/p>\n

The visit, during which Mr Walsh met various production team members, has been interpreted by industry observers as a significant development in the search for new hosts to lead the show from 2026.<\/p>\n

\"Holly<\/p>\n

Bradley Walsh on set of Take Off with Bradley and Holly<\/p>\n

| <\/p>\n

BBC\/Hungry Bear\/Guy Levy\/Matt Burlem<\/p>\n

During his visit, the presenter spent time with the programme’s backstage team, including chief dressmaker Theresa Hewlett, who documented the encounter on social media platform X.<\/p>\n

Ms Hewlett posted a photograph of herself with Mr Walsh and colleagues, writing: \u201cWe had a visitor in BBC\u2019s Strictly yesterday. <\/p>\n

“The Chase is filmed next door and he popped in to say hi. What a lovely man Bradley Walsh is!\u201d<\/p>\n

The image quickly circulated online, prompting enthusiastic responses from viewers.<\/p>\n

\"BrandleyStrictly staff members posed with the Chase presenter as he made a surprise visit to the BBC studios | @t_hewlett \/ X<\/p>\n

One user commented: \u201cOh yes, he’s the new presenter for sure!\u201d <\/p>\n

Another added: \u201cHe\u2019d be great on Strictly.\u201dA third person remarked: \u201cNow that\u2019s how rumours start!\u201d<\/p>\n

The warm reception Mr Walsh received from production staff was echoed by several crew members, who described him as \u201clovely\u201d during his impromptu visit.<\/p>\n

Mr Walsh\u2019s studio appearance has prompted significant reaction from television industry insiders, according to multiple sources familiar with the situation.<\/p>\n

\"BradleyBradley Walsh during day five of Royal Ascot at Ascot Racecourse | PA<\/p>\n

\u201cBradley\u2019s appearance in the studio has certainly set tongues wagging,\u201d a source told The Sun.<\/p>\n

\u201cBosses are keen for Bradley to take over. He is a real pro and has brilliant experience hosting live shows.\u201d<\/p>\n

The source emphasised the BBC\u2019s need for stability, stating: \u201cProducers need a safe pair of hands to steady the ship amid so much damage. Of course, he\u2019d have a female alongside him as part of a duo.\u201d<\/p>\n

They added: \u201cBradley is popular with both old and young and would bring humour and some old-school showbiz quality.\u201d<\/p>\n

The timing of Mr Walsh\u2019s visit has been particularly noted given recent reports about advanced discussions regarding the presenting role.<\/p>\n

Ms Daly and Ms Winkleman revealed their decision to leave Strictly in October through an emotional video message shared on social media, marking the end of their presenting partnership that began in 2014.<\/p>\n

The duo, who have become synonymous with the programme, stated: \u201cWe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

They expressed gratitude towards the production team, adding: \u201cWe 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Alex<\/p>\n

The One Show’s Alex Jones is also said to be a contender in the line-up for the next Strictly presenters<\/p>\n

| <\/p>\n

BBC\/Sidney Street Productions\/ \u00a9 Neil Genower<\/p>\n

Their final appearance will be the pre-recorded Christmas special scheduled for broadcast on Christmas Day.<\/p>\n

Reports indicate Mr Walsh is in advanced discussions to present the programme alongside The One Show\u2019s Alex Jones, with the pair expected to take over hosting responsibilities from 2026.<\/p>\n

A television insider revealed to The Sun: \u201cAlex and Bradley are both the favourites to take over from Tess and Claudia\u2026 they have been in the BBC\u2019s sights for some time.\u201d<\/p>\n

The source highlighted their complementary skills: \u201cBradley and Alex are both seen as accomplished broadcasters. He brings the wisecracks, and Alex is the calm head who knows how to handle live situations after 15 years of co-hosting The One Show.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ms Jones, 48, previously competed on Strictly in 2011, reaching the semi-final with professional partner James Jordan. <\/p>\n

The insider confirmed discussions had been \u201cmoving in a really positive direction\u201d whilst noting \u201cnothing is set in stone yet.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Bradley Walsh has intensified speculation about becoming Strictly Come Dancing’s next host following a surprise appearance at the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":319223,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[64,63,1576,480,134,142182,427],"class_list":{"0":"post-319222","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-tv","8":"tag-au","9":"tag-australia","10":"tag-bbc","11":"tag-celebrity","12":"tag-entertainment","13":"tag-strictly-come-dancing","14":"tag-tv"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/319222","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=319222"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/319222\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/319223"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=319222"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=319222"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=319222"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}