I’m hearing that Claudia Winkleman might be heading to Hollywood! After leaving Strictly, which I’m still sad about, it sounds like she’s looking for new opportunities over in the States to keep doing what she does best on TV. I’m excited to see what she does next!
Claudia and Tess Daly announced on Thursday that they are leaving their roles, sharing the news in a video posted on their social media accounts.
Sources at the BBC say there’s strong interest from the US for the presenter to relocate and pursue opportunities there.
It might be appealing for the Traitors contestant, age 53, to move to New York City, as her husband, a film producer named Kris Thykier, and their children already spend time there.
According to a source at the BBC, Claudia Winkleman has been considering leaving the show for a while. She and Tess Daly successfully navigated the 20th anniversary season despite reports of bullying.
Claudia is considering a move to the United States. Her children are grown, and her husband, film producer Kris Thykier, is frequently working in Hollywood, making a potential relocation more feasible.
Daily Mail has contacted Claudia’s representatives and the BBC for comment.
Steven D Wright, who used to produce entertainment shows for Channel 4, suggested that Claudia Winkleman’s success on ‘The Traitors’ is so significant, it might actually be limiting her opportunities with ‘Strictly Come Dancing’. He believes she’s talented enough to land a major deal with Netflix and potentially move to the United States.
Claudia and her husband, Kris, made a rare public appearance together at the premiere of ‘Is This Thing On’ last week.
Claudia and Kris got married in June 2000 and later had three children: Jake, who is 22, Matilda, 19, and Arthur, 14.
Claudia revealed in 2022 how Strictly has impacted her family life.
The actress informed Sarah James, the show’s producer, that she would have to leave if filming for the new season began at the same time her son, Jake, was starting college.
She explained that she called the head of Strictly in a very emotional state, and while crying, told them, ‘Sarah, I adore you. Please don’t make me leave the show.’
Tess and I made a plan to leave together once we’re no longer needed, but if the first performance isn’t until September 13th, I’m leaving early and you’ll need to find another partner. There was a pause after he said that.
Claudia explained that Sarah had commented it was ‘Quite dramatic’ when she learned the start date, but Claudia felt it was a necessary part of being a parent. She had to go and put up her son’s posters, and while she didn’t feel any different from other parents, she understood this was just something parents have to do for their children.
Tess, age 56, has been part of the popular BBC1 show for all 21 of its series. She became the main host in 2014, taking over from Bruce Forsyth. Claudia also joined the main show that same year, after previously hosting the spin-off show, It Takes Two, on BBC2 since 2004.
Recently, Tess has suggested she might be stepping down as the main host. Claudia, meanwhile, shared that she had difficult conversations with Strictly Come Dancing producers about balancing the show’s demands with her family life, specifically getting her son settled into his first year at university.
According to a source close to the show, Claudia has a lot of experience, but her appearance on The Traitors has significantly boosted her popularity and made her more sought-after than ever before.
She’s had to decline some exciting new opportunities because of her commitment to Strictly Come Dancing, which occupies a significant portion of her year. Ultimately, she decided leaving the show was necessary to pursue her other goals.
Tess had been considering leaving the show for a while, and Claudia’s potential departure helped her make up her mind.
Katie Hind and Alison Boshoff of the Daily Mail share exclusive insights into why they left in a new article on Mail+. You can read the full story here.
According to a source close to the situation, the pair had always agreed to leave the show together, and they wanted to honor that agreement. Because they’re known as a couple on Strictly, it felt natural for them to exit the competition at the same time.
Following the news of their departures – which came after claims of leaks inside the BBC – people are already guessing who will take their place. Rylan Clark, Stacey Dooley, Fleur East, and Janette Manrara are currently seen as the most likely candidates.
This show is still one of the BBC’s most prized possessions, and the person chosen to host it will instantly gain more public attention and a substantial salary.
Both Tess and Claudia knew that hosting a major series meant a lot of responsibility and required a significant time commitment throughout the year.
Tess and Claudia shared a video on Thursday morning to announce they were leaving.
Claudia addressed the camera, saying, ‘We’ve been hearing some concerns, and we wanted to address them directly with you.’
Tess announced that after 21 fantastic years on Strictly, they’ve decided it’s time to leave and let someone new take over.
Oh, that baton was so sparkly! Claudia just burst out laughing, then turned to her friend and co-star, saying, ‘You’ve been with me from day one, haven’t you?’ It was a really sweet moment – they’ve clearly known each other forever.
Tess said, gesturing towards Claudia, ‘I worked with Bruce, the wonderful Bruce Forsyth, over twenty years ago, but I’ve spent much more time working with you.’
It’s been a significant part of our lives, starting when our children were very young, and now that they’re grown, we truly appreciate every moment we’ve shared.
Claudia added that they feel incredibly fortunate to have been a part of such a wonderful show, and expressed their gratitude to the entire Strictly team, emphasizing that the people behind the scenes are what truly make it special.
We’ve really enjoyed working together, and hosting Strictly has been a wonderful experience for us.
We always planned to finish this journey together, and now feels like the perfect moment. We’re excited to enjoy the rest of this incredible series, and we want to express our huge gratitude to the BBC and everyone who contributes to the show.
This team is incredibly talented, and we’ll truly miss working with them. Saying goodbye will be hard, but we’ll always encourage each other and remember the good times.
‘Just possibly in tracksuit bottoms at home while holding some pizza.’
The BBC has finally commented on Claudia and Tess leaving, acknowledging that their departure signals the end of a significant period.
Kate Phillips, the BBC’s head of content, expressed surprise and sadness about Tess and Claudia’s departure from Strictly Come Dancing, acknowledging it marks the end of a significant chapter for the show.
Both hosts have been amazing at the center of everything, consistently going the extra mile with their enthusiasm and hard work.
They’ve played a huge part in making Strictly Come Dancing so successful for the past two decades, and I respect their decision to retire and enjoy their weekends again.
Craig always says Tess and Claud are wonderful presenters, and they’re fantastic friends – not just to me, but to lots of people at the BBC. Thank you both for everything; we’re going to miss you a lot.
Suzy Lamb, the managing director of entertainment, shared that everyone at Strictly Come Dancing will greatly miss Tess and Claudia.
I’ve been a fan for years, and I always admired how Tess brought such grace and a real passion to the show – it was clear from day one! Then when Claudia joined in 2014, bringing her amazing personality and quick humor from ‘It Takes Two,’ it was magic. Their chemistry instantly clicked and honestly, they’ve kept me – and so many others – hooked ever since. It’s a truly special partnership.
Tess and Claudia are like family to us here at Strictly – we’re really going to miss them, but we wish them all the best for the future.
Strictly’s executive producer, Sarah James, praised Tess and Claudia as the best presenting pair in the industry, expressing gratitude for their many years of hosting the show.
They’ve supported numerous celebrities on the dance floor and guided us through two seasons during the pandemic. More importantly, they truly care about the show and everyone who works on it.
‘The Strictly Family is often referred to and these women are the matriarchs of that family.
We’ve shared so much life together, supporting each other through joyful moments like pregnancies and births, and helping each other cope with loss. It’s impossible to express how deeply we’ll miss them.
Tess and Claudia, thank you so much for all your hard work! We’re not finished yet – let’s make the most of the rest of this amazing season. I guess I should say ‘start dancing’ instead of ‘keep dancing’!
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2025-10-24 11:05