Alex Jones is Strictly Come Dancing chief’s top pick for next host… but is she the latest star put off by its gruelling hours? KATIE HIND

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Hosting Strictly Come Dancing is widely thought to be one of the best jobs in television.

As a lifestyle expert, I’m not surprised everyone’s talking about the search for new hosts on that hugely popular show! With so many people tuning in and loving the sparkle, the BBC was hoping to attract the biggest names in British television to fill the shoes of Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman – and honestly, who wouldn’t want that gig?

Despite reports suggesting many well-known personalities are in the running, The Mail on Sunday has learned that finding new hosts is actually proving difficult.

According to sources, Kate Phillips, who leads content at the BBC, really wants Alex Jones to take over from either Claudia Winkleman or Tess Daly. However, it’s been reported that Alex Jones hasn’t been enthusiastic about the opportunity.

Many well-known individuals aren’t applying for the £400,000 positions because the job requires working long and inconvenient hours on Fridays and Saturdays.

Some people realize the job comes with a lot of attention and prefer to avoid being in the spotlight.

Someone involved with the show revealed that while ‘Strictly’ is a hugely popular and beloved program, convincing people to participate isn’t always straightforward.

‘With Tess and Claudia it happened organically. Now the roles are hugely inflated. 

Kate Phillips strongly encourages Alex Jones to take on the project, but she and other potential candidates prefer to maintain a low profile.

It’s also much easier for established stars to make money now. For example, Bradley Walsh would be a great choice, but he already earns a lot from filming episodes of The Chase beforehand.

Being on Strictly Come Dancing completely dominates your life for about four months. It takes over everything you do. Even experienced dancers like Tess and Claudia found it incredibly challenging.

Oh my gosh, you wouldn’t BELIEVE how hard they worked! They were there practically all day and night, especially Fridays and Saturdays, just constantly running through scenes and doing full dress rehearsals. It was insane, but amazing to see their dedication!

Several people are being considered for the role, such as Walsh, Alan Carr, Holly Willoughby, and Alison Hammond.

Show executives would like the new celebrity contestants to have some prior link to the show, but that might not be feasible.

If former BBC executive Philippa Phillips convinces Alex Jones, age 48 – a semi-finalist on the show in 2011 – to join Strictly Come Dancing, it would create an opening on The One Show.

Sources suggest that 56-year-old Ms. Daly might be a strong candidate for the role, with many now seeing her and her husband, Vernon Kay, as the new ‘Richard and Judy’ pairing.

They co-hosted a magazine show on Wednesday evening and reportedly made a strong impression on the BBC’s senior management.

After 14 years, Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman decided to leave their roles hosting Strictly Come Dancing last October. They had been talking about their departure for a year and wanted to step down at the same time.

They’ve been looking for new presenters since then, and we expect an announcement around early summer.

Although Ms. Daly hasn’t announced what she’ll do next, Claudia Winkleman, age 53, will be hosting a new chat show called The Claudia Winkleman Show on BBC One, starting March 13th.

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2026-03-01 02:33