Rylan Clark is the BBC’s favourite to become the new Strictly host but faces screen tests with other contenders to assess their chemistry: ‘He will be a ratings winner!’

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Rylan Clark became a popular figure with millions of viewers as the host of It Takes Two, the companion show to Strictly Come Dancing, alongside Zoe Ball.

He clearly impressed his superiors, and at 37, he’s now a contender to replace Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman on the popular BBC Saturday night dance show.

According to BBC insiders, he’s been asked to audition alongside other possible hosts, such as Irish TV and radio personality Angela Scanlon, who was a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing and is 42 years old.

Rylan first became well-known in 2012 as a contestant on The X Factor, a show that used to compete with Strictly Come Dancing. He’s now a possible host for a new show, but he still needs to do a screen test in two weeks to see how well he connects with potential co-hosts.

Strictly sources say bosses want a fresh line-up with strong connections to the show.

A source told the Daily Mail that Rylan has been involved with the show for a long time, and Angela previously competed on it.

The best part is they’d be a completely fresh partnership – with no past history, no previous performances together, and something truly special for Strictly.

Furthermore, they also want to avoid reverting to a traditional pairing where a man is clearly in charge, replacing a team of women.

Rylan’s a genuinely good person, and he’s a huge fan of the show. The audience already really likes him too.

Insiders say he would ‘bite the BBC’s hand off’ for the job.

Someone mentioned that this would be a perfect job for Rylan, as he’s a fan of the show ‘It Takes Two’ and viewers clearly enjoy watching him. It seems like a natural fit.

I’m telling you, this guy has a seriously devoted fanbase! If he joins Strictly, they’ll absolutely be watching – I guarantee it. He’s a sure thing when it comes to boosting viewership, and the BBC knows that’s exactly what he’ll bring to the table.

Rylan is reportedly very enthusiastic about being partnered with Angela, who was on the show last year, and producers think they would make a great pairing.

I’ve been a huge fan of Rylan Clark-Neal for years! I especially loved watching him host ‘It Takes Two’ – he was brilliant on that show from 2019 to 2023. But he’s so versatile! I also regularly listened to his ‘Rylan On Saturday’ show on Radio 2, and he always brings such energy to ‘This Morning’ on ITV. And of course, he was fantastic leading the BBC’s coverage of Eurovision – he really knows how to work a crowd!

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Other potential hosts include Alex Jones, who presents The One Show, along with Zoe Ball and Bradley Walsh, the host of The Chase.

Tess and Claudia revealed last October that they would be stepping down from hosting Strictly after working together on the show for 14 years.

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2026-03-20 01:33