Strictly Come Dancing bosses are ‘hiring three new presenters’ to replace Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman for the 2026 BBC series

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Sources say that the producers of Strictly Come Dancing are thinking about bringing in three new hosts for the 2026 season on BBC, potentially replacing Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.

The Sun reports that seven candidates are currently being considered to take over from the well-known pair, with Alex Jones currently the most likely to get the job.

Zoe Ball, Rylan Clark, Alison Hammond, Angela Scanlon, Emma Willis, and Fleur East are also being considered for the role.

According to a source, Alex is still the leading candidate to become a host at the BBC. The network is very impressed with her and believes she would be a great replacement for Tess on the show.

‘Talk recently has turned to whether they could bring in a third host to really freshen it up.’

Auditions and chemistry tests for potential cast members are now scheduled for April, after being delayed from their original January date.

The Daily Mail have contacted the BBC for comment.  

After the latest season finished last December, Tess and Claudia decided to leave the show, and people have been wondering who will take their place.

Sources say Emma Willis and Zoe Ball are also top contenders for the hosting role.

Emma, age 49, now hosts the BBC Radio 2 afternoon show. She took over from Zoe, 55, who left the position after seven months.

Zoe has expressed strong interest in the hosting position, having previously presented the Strictly spin-off show, It Takes Two, until 2021.

According to a source, Zoe and Emma are the final two contenders, and only one of them will be selected.

Sources told The Sun on Sunday that executives are looking for a host with mainstream appeal to work with a female comedian who brings a more unique perspective.

People believe the funny and unique style Claudia brought to the show, especially through her segment called “Claudatorium”, should continue to be a part of it.

Emma is famous for her television hosting jobs, including The Voice and the UK version of Love Is Blind. She co-hosts these shows with her husband, Matt Willis, who is a member of the band Busted and is 42 years old.

Zoe recently shared that her dream job would be hosting Strictly Come Dancing, one of the most popular shows on British television.

Rumors really started flying when the radio presenter said she was quitting her Saturday show, as many believed she was freeing up her schedule to pursue a prominent television position.

Zoe has responded to the rumors, saying she hasn’t been asked about the opportunity yet, but she’s very interested in it.

She admitted she’d really enjoy returning to the show, saying, ‘I absolutely love it.’ She especially cherished performing with her close friend, Ian Waite, and described the experience as ‘joyful’.

She admitted taking over from her friends Claudia and Tess would be incredibly challenging. She emphasized that people often underestimate how difficult it is to present live television.

‘That show is a beast. Whoever gets to do it has a tough act to follow.’

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2026-03-14 04:18