Bradley Walsh ‘main favourite in the running for Strictly host’ after Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman’s shock decision to quit BBC show

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Sources say Bradley Walsh is a strong contender to take over as host of Strictly Come Dancing, potentially replacing Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.

The beloved pair, who have co-hosted the show since 2014, shared a heartfelt video on social media last month announcing they are leaving.

Many well-known television personalities are being considered for the role, and Bradley Walsh, the 65-year-old host of The Chase, is also a possible contender. This would be seen as a tribute to the show’s first host, Bruce Forsyth.

Bradley is expected to be joined by at least one female co-host, possibly Oti Mabuse, a former professional dancer on Strictly, or Fleur East, who was a contestant on Strictly and has hosted It Takes Two.

According to a source, Bradley has a lot of experience hosting live events and is being considered by executives as a potential host. They believe he would be a great fit.

It’s not surprising he’d partner with a woman; Oti and Fleur are both strong contenders with plenty of experience.

Bradley appeals to viewers of all ages and would add a touch of fun and classic entertainment to the show.

The Daily Mail have approached both Bradley’s representatives and the BBC for comment. 

Bradley is a well-known TV presenter, famous for hosting the popular quiz show The Chase and the revived series Gladiators, which he co-hosts with his son, Barney.

Hannah Waddingham is now being considered as a possible new host for the show, alongside other potential candidates like Rylan Clark and Zoe Ball.

Zoe was the first well-known personality to publicly express her desire to host Strictly Come Dancing this week.

I was so thrilled when she announced she’d landed this new role – she called it ‘amazing’! It’s especially exciting considering just two months ago, she was publicly wondering if she’d made the right call leaving her incredibly successful, and high-paying, Radio 2 Breakfast Show. It really feels like a fantastic comeback for her.

The 54-year-old made the revelation on her Dig It podcast with fellow broadcaster Jo Whiley.

Zoe described hearing the news as a complete shock, saying everyone reacted with disbelief and confusion – it was just a ‘what?’ moment for all of them.

My phone kept making noises, and I was really surprised! I asked why no one had told me what was going on, and the response was basically, ‘I had no idea! How could I have known?’

The presenter praised the departing hosts, saying they were both excellent and would be hard to replace on the show.

When Jo, her co-host, asked Zoe point-blank if she’d be interested in the job, Zoe was honest. She admitted, ‘I think everyone would want that job – it’s fantastic, and the best Saturday night show on television.’

Honestly, watching Ellie dance with Vito, or Lewis and Katya, even Alex and JoJo… it just fills me with so much joy! That show really brightens people’s lives, and I truly believe whoever gets to lead it next will have the absolute best job imaginable.

She added: ‘Everyone’s going to want that job. There will be queues going around the block.’

Tess has hosted Strictly Come Dancing since the show began in 2004. Claudia joined the main show in 2014, having previously presented its companion show, It Takes Two, from 2004 to 2010. Zoe then took over hosting It Takes Two until 2021.

Because Zoe has been connected with ‘Strictly’ for a long time, she’s considered a top candidate to take over when the current hosts leave.

She not only hosted a related show for ten years, but also competed on the main show, becoming the runner-up in 2005 with her dance partner, Ian Waite.

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2025-11-02 03:20