Janette Manrara praises Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly on air as she emerges as frontrunner to replace them as Strictly Come Dancing host

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Janette Manrara publicly complimented Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly, and is now considered a likely candidate to take over from them after they announced they were leaving their roles as hosts of Strictly Come Dancing.

The 41-year-old dancer stopped performing on the show in 2021 and now co-hosts its spin-off, It Takes Two.

Many believe Janette is a leading contender to replace Claudia and Tess on the show next year, due to her popularity on the series.

The show’s current hosts, who have worked together since 2014, shared a heartfelt video on social media Thursday announcing they are leaving the show.

Janette praised Claudia and Tess, who host ‘It Takes Two,’ noting that Tess has been with the show since the beginning, alongside the iconic Bruce Forsyth.

Oh my gosh, Claudia first welcomed us to the show, and then, can you believe it, she got to reveal the results with Tess starting in 2010! It was amazing! And ever since 2014, they’ve both been on screen for the whole thing – the main show and the results! They’re just the perfect pair, honestly.

Janette said she’ll really miss them both, but is glad they’ll still be around for the rest of the series and the Christmas special, which she expects to be fantastic!

Oh my gosh, you won’t BELIEVE who’s potentially taking over the show! Seriously, some of the biggest stars on television are already trying out for the lead role when the next season starts in 2026. I’m practically glued to the updates – it’s going to be amazing!

Janette, Zoe Ball, Holly Willoughby, Stacey Dooley, and Kevin Clifton are currently considered leading contenders.

Other names who have been mentioned so far include Roman Kemp and former contestant Alex Scott.

It’s not surprising Janette is a strong contender – she’s incredibly familiar with the show, and currently has 3-1 odds of winning.

The Cuban-American performer became popular in the UK thanks to her role on a BBC show, where she starred for eight seasons starting in 2013.

As someone who keeps a close eye on rising talent, I first noticed Janette when she was competing on So You Think You Can Dance back in 2009. She’s a Miami native, and honestly, her talent was impossible to ignore – she was scouted right then and there! It was clear she had something special.

This opportunity led her to join the international dance show, Burn the Floor, and it’s where she first met Aljaž Škorjanec, who would later become her husband.

She quickly became a popular contestant on Strictly Come Dancing, captivating audiences with her kind personality, lively performances, and creative dance routines. She danced with several celebrities, including Jake Wood, Peter Andre, and HRVY.

She stopped competing in 2021 and began working as a presenter, first co-hosting the show Strictly: It Takes Two with Rylan Clark, and later with Fleur East.

Tess and Claudia announced on Instagram on Thursday that they’re leaving Strictly Come Dancing after 21 happy years. They feel it’s the right time to move on and let someone new take over.

Tess described ‘Strictly’ as much more than just a TV show. She explained it’s felt like raising a third child and being part of a second family, becoming a significant part of her life since the show began in 2004.

Meanwhile Claudia described hosting the show as ‘the greatest relationship of my career.’

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2025-10-24 03:05