Claudia Winkleman reveals she plans to watch Strictly Come Dancing launch with Tess Daly after the iconic duo stepped away from hosting gig

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Claudia Winkleman has revealed she plans to watch this year’s Strictly Come Dancing with Tess Daly.

After leaving their roles as hosts of the BBC dancing show last year, there’s been a lot of guessing about who will take over.

Although Claudia and Tess won’t be hosting the show this season, the host of The Traitors shared that they still plan to watch the premiere of Strictly Come Dancing together when it returns later in the year.

I was so excited to hear Claudia talking to The Mirror! She revealed that she and Tess have already made plans for their meal – jacket potatoes for both of them, and I’m thrilled to hear she’s having salmon!

‘She is coming to ours, her and Vern(husband Vernon Kay), I am not joking.’

She plans to help her get comfortable with a new nightgown, and they’ll all be there to watch, cheer her on, and show their love.

Claudia recently changed her mind about hosting Strictly Come Dancing, admitting she’d be foolish to pass up the chance.

Alison, 51, who is known for her roles on This Morning and The Great British Bake Off, has been frequently mentioned as a potential cast member for the show.

She had previously said she couldn’t take the job because she was already committed to other television shows.

Alison recently told Radio Times that she’s very busy and doesn’t think something she’s been discussing will be possible. She described it as unrealistic.

I really wanted to participate – whoever gets the chance will have a huge career boost. But I’m genuinely content with my current situation, so I can’t imagine giving anything up to be on Strictly Come Dancing.

However in a new interview, Alison has since clarified her stance on taking over the ballroom.

Speaking to Metro, she revealed: ‘Do you think I would turn down Strictly if Strictly came along? 

‘Who would turn down Strictly! They’d be absolutely crazy.’

Alison explained she was asking people to stop mentioning her in connection with the show because it was hurting her chances of being considered for Strictly Come Dancing. She really wants to be on the show and needs everyone to stop discussing her potential involvement.

She concluded: ‘I’m not too busy, I’m fitter than I’ve ever been before. 

I’m definitely capable of doing Strictly Come Dancing, even with everything else I have going on. People say they’re too busy, but I could absolutely manage it. I want to make that clear.

Elsewhere Bradley Walsh became a frontrunner for the new host of Strictly Come Dancing.

Last week, it was reported filming for The Chase has been halted for ‘at least a year’.

Bradley, age 65, has hosted the show since 2009 and is reportedly a strong contender to become a contestant on the BBC’s dancing competition.

However, people working in television believe the presenter might face a difficult decision, as he also hosts the popular Saturday night show, Gladiators.

Bradley and his 28-year-old son, Barney, successfully revived the show in 2024, and it quickly became very popular with viewers.

The show has run for three main series, plus two celebrity editions and a children’s version. Many of the Gladiators have gone on to appear on other popular TV programs, like Strictly Come Dancing and The Great British Sewing Bee.

If Bradley gets the job on Strictly Come Dancing, he might have to leave Gladiators, the show that helped his son become a presenter.

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2026-04-18 04:10