Bookies reveal stars most likely to replace Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly
Zoe Ball, Fleur East, Janette Manrara, Rylan Clark and Stacey Dooley are among the favourites to replace Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman as Strictly hosts. Here are all the odds from bookmakers:
Greg Evans24 October 2025 08:00
Craig Revel Horwood reacts to Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman’s Strictly exitCraig Revel Horwood reacts to Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman’s Strictly exit
Athena Stavrou24 October 2025 07:00
Full story: Tess and Claudia quit Strictly
Athena Stavrou24 October 2025 06:30
Claudia Winkleman appears to hint that Strictly replacements have already been decided
Strictly Come Dancing host Claudia Winkleman appeared to hint that she knows the identity of her and Tess Daly’s replacement, as she promised that the show’s new presenters will take the programme “to new heights”.
Daly, 56, has hosted the show for 21 years while Winkleman, 53, joined as co-presenter on the main programme in 2014, having previously hosted the Sunday night results show. They announced today (23 October) that they are stepping down after the end of the current series.
“I’ve always believed it’s best to leave a party before you’re fully ready to go and I know the new hosts will be magnificent,” Winkleman wrote in a statement announcing her departure.
She added: “I look forward to watching them take Strictly to new heights.”
(BBC)
Athena Stavrou24 October 2025 05:30
The stars most likely to replace Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly
Athena Stavrou24 October 2025 04:30
Traitors star reacts to Winkleman’s exit
FormerTraitors star Diane Carson has spoken out over the news Claudia Winkleman – who also hosts The Traitors on BBC.
“No way. Claudia’s so good at whatever she does and she’s so now invested in The Traitors,” she told BBC Radio Cumbria.
“Wow, God I hope she never leaves Traitors.
“People always say to me, ‘is she as she seems?’ Well yes she is. She is passionate about the game, she is invested in all the players and she is very funny.
“And of course her costumes have got more and more bizarre – which is fantastic.”
(Good Morning Britain, ITV)
Athena Stavrou24 October 2025 03:30
Watch: Oti Mabuse cries as says Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman exit is ‘end of an era’Oti Mabuse cries as says Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman exit is ‘end of an era’
Athena Stavrou24 October 2025 02:30
BBC bosses respond to Tess and Claudia’s departure
Kate Phillips, chief content officer for the BBC, described the announcement as the “end of an era”, with the co-hosts being “integral” to the show’s success.
She said: “They’ve both been such incredible hosts at the very heart of the show, their passion and dedication has 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.”
Suzy Lamb, managing director of entertainment at BBC Studios, added: “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.”
Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman are stepping down from Strictly (Jonathan Brady/PA) (PA)
The show’s executive producer, Sarah James, labelled the pair as the “matriarchs” of the Strictly family, adding they are the “best duo of presenters” in the business.
She said: “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.
“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.”
Athena Stavrou24 October 2025 01:25
When will the pair’s last show be?
The pair’s last appearance together on the show will be its Christmas special, which will air on December 25.
Tess Daly, 56, presented the series since it first launched in 2004 alongside the late Sir Bruce Forsyth, while Winkleman, 53, fronted its weekday companion show, It Takes Two.
Claudia Winkleman eventually moved on to host the Sunday night results show alongside Daly and joined the main show every Saturday from 2014, after Sir Bruce stepped down.
The pair picked up the entertainment programme gong at the Bafta TV Awards in 2024 and were made Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the King’s Birthday Honours for their services to broadcasting.
(BBC)
Athena Stavrou24 October 2025 00:23
All the scandals that have threatened show’s future:
While Strictly’s image had largely remained untarnished since it began in 2005, the 2023 season ushered in an unprecedented wave of scandals that have shaped the show for good. Find out about all of the controversies the series has faced, below:
Athena Stavrou23 October 2025 23:30