It will be tough for anyone who takes over from Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly – they’ve set a high standard.
Since 2014, when they replaced Bruce Forsyth, these two women have become the hosts of the popular, glamorous show and made BBC history as the first female presenting team.
The announcement that they were leaving shocked people all over the country, and fans, judges, and professional dancers have all been sharing heartfelt messages for the couple.
Several well-known television personalities are being considered for the main hosting role, which will begin with the next season in 2026. But who are the potential replacements?
Hannah Waddingham is the latest well-known personality to join the show, alongside established hosts like Rylan Clark and Zoe Ball.
With Mel and Sue returning, will the BBC once again choose an all-female hosting team? Or will this be an opportunity for married duo Emma Willis and Matt to become the new hosts?
Hannah Waddingham (3-1)
As someone who’s spent years observing and advising on personal style and career paths, I’ve seen firsthand how early experiences shape a person. For this particular woman, her journey began in the vibrant London theatre world when she was just in her early twenties – a fantastic foundation for anyone comfortable with performance and a bit of sparkle!
Hannah’s career took off just five years ago when she landed the role of Rebecca Welton, the owner of Richmond FC, in the popular Apple TV+ show Ted Lasso. This role has earned her two Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress.
She quickly impressed both audiences and critics with her clever humor, classic style, and powerful singing.
She’s a true performer and would really shine on the dance floor. Plus, she’s already close with judge Anton Du Beke and his wife, Hannah.
In 2024, reports surfaced that Hannah was considering appearing on the show. A source mentioned she’s a fan, but her participation depended on her availability and whether she could find the time.
She is a woman in demand, but could she find a slot to host the show in 2026?
Zoe Ball (3-1)
A well-known TV and radio personality is a strong contender to become the next host of the BBC’s popular dancing show.
The mother of two seems like a great choice for the job because she previously hosted ‘It Takes Two,’ a show related to this one.
Zoe has been a familiar face and voice on television and radio since the early 1990s. She began her career on children’s television with CBBC, and later became known for hosting popular shows like The Big Breakfast and Live & Kicking.
In 1997, she became the first woman to host BBC Radio 1’s popular Breakfast Show. She initially co-hosted with Kevin Greening before taking on the role herself.
Following her departure from Radio 1 in 2000, she remained active in television and radio, hosting popular programs such as Top of the Pops, It Takes Two, and shows on BBC Radio 2.
In 2019, Zoe took over from Chris Evans as the host of BBC Radio 2’s Breakfast Show, making her the first woman to ever hold the job.
Having Zoe host, or co-host, the show would be a fantastic addition to her already successful career.
According to OLBG, she’s now the most likely candidate to replace Tess and Claudia on the show, with odds of 3-1.
Rylan Clark and Rob Rinder (4-1)
Rylan is also becoming a strong contender, and bookmakers believe his engaging personality could make him the next host of the show.
In addition to hosting It Takes Two, he’s also presented several other TV shows, such as Big Brother’s Bit on the Side, Supermarket Sweep, and Ready Steady Cook.
Rylan hosts programs on BBC Radio 2 and is a frequent guest on panel shows and reality TV specials.
According to Jake Ashton, an entertainment betting expert at OLBG, Zoe Ball and Rylan Clark are likely to be popular early bets on the show due to their experience and established connection with Strictly Come Dancing.
However, the show’s creators might decide to make changes. Hannah Waddingham is becoming incredibly popular, and viewers have quickly recognized her talent and charisma.
Viewers loved the charming connection between Rylan and Rob Rinder after they co-hosted the travel series Grand Tour, exploring Italy and India, so Rob could potentially join Rylan on future projects.
The pair have even won a BAFTA for their show proving their chemistry really is award winning.
Mel and Sue
Besides the odds, the BBC might want a familiar duo to compete on the show.
Fans are excitedly wondering if Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins will finally be back together on screen.
From 2010 to 2016, this duo was beloved by audiences as the hosts of The Great British Bake Off.
They chose to leave the show when it switched from the BBC to Channel 4, because they were committed to the BBC.
So what a perfect opportunity for them to reunite as the face of primetime Saturday night TV.
Fans excitedly took to Twitter to express their strong preference for Mel and Sue, with many tweeting that they are ‘the only correct answer’.
‘Totally agree about #GBBO & fabulous Mel and Sue. I might watch #Strictly if they fronted it’;
I was really disappointed to hear Claudia is leaving Strictly Come Dancing. I’m hoping Mel and Sue will take over from her and Tess – they’re a fantastic duo with a lovely mix of warmth and funny moments.
Emma and Matt Willis (8-1)
Television couples have long captivated audiences, and Emma and Matt Willis are among the most popular pairings today.
Married since 2008, Emma and her partner are the hosts of the popular Netflix show, Love is Blind UK. Emma has a lot of experience hosting major TV programs like The Voice and Big Brother, which led to her role on the show.
Matt is best known as a singer in the band Busted, but recently he’s started working in television, following in the footsteps of his wife.
In a 2023 BBC documentary called Fighting Addiction, he revealed how his struggle with alcohol almost destroyed his 20-year relationship with Emma.
Strictly Come Dancing could offer them a way to connect with new viewers and show a more fun and playful side of their relationship on a popular, uplifting program.
Emma is currently a long shot at 8/1 odds, but she’s expressed interest in the show before. Back in 2020, she said dancing is something she really enjoys.
Alan Carr and Amanda Holden
Honestly, I can’t believe he’s become known as the country’s biggest betrayer! It all started when he was on the first season of The Celebrity Traitors in the UK, and his actions there really solidified that reputation, at least in my eyes.
So it is no wonder he is a name on everyone’s lips to replace Claudia and Tess.
Alan is an experienced presenter – he previously hosted his own talk show, so he’s sure to keep things light and help the celebrities relax.
He currently stars alongside Amanda Holden in the BBC series, Amanda & Alan’s Spanish Job, as the two are close friends.
Amanda is well-known as a judge on Britain’s Got Talent, but could she move from judging to hosting and fill the shoes of the previous presenter?
Fans haven’t just speculated about Amanda joining Alan on the show; some also think he might be paired with Paloma Faith or even Joe Marler.
I honestly couldn’t believe it when Alan… when he killed her! It was the first death of the whole show, and coming from him? Unforgivable! But… and I know it sounds crazy… I can’t help but wonder if they could somehow work through all that on Strictly. Maybe, just maybe, the ballroom could be a place for forgiveness… or at least, some seriously dramatic dancing!
Many fans are saying Alan Carr should definitely be considered as a host for the next season of Strictly Come Dancing.
‘Suggested Strictly hosts, Alan Carr and Paloma Faith. Paloma does the Claudia role;’
‘Hear me out. Alan Carr and Joe Marler to be the new hosts of Strictly.’
The popular hosting pair announced their unexpected exit on Thursday morning with a video posted to their social media accounts, confirming they were leaving the show.
Following Claudia, 53 – known for hosting BBC’s The Traitors and Celebrity Traitors – and Tess, 56, the video showed them sitting together as it announced their departure.
Claudia addressed the camera, saying, ‘We’ve been hearing some concerns, and we wanted to share what’s happening 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.
“That baton is really sparkly!” Claudia chuckled, then turned to her friend and fellow actor, saying, “You’ve been with me from the start.”
Tess responded, indicating Claudia, ‘I worked with Bruce, the wonderful Bruce Forsyth, over twenty years ago, but I’ve spent much more time working with you.’
Comment now
It’s been a significant part of our lives, really since our kids were babies, and now that they’re grown, we’ve truly appreciated every moment.
I’m still buzzing from the experience! We feel incredibly lucky to have been a part of such an amazing show. Honestly, the real magic of Strictly comes from the incredible team behind the scenes – they’re the ones who truly make it happen, and we’re so grateful to them.
We’ve really enjoyed working together, and hosting Strictly has been a wonderful experience for us.
As a lifestyle expert, I’m always saying it’s important to recognize when the time is right for a new chapter, and for us, that time has come. We’ve always planned to move forward together, and it feels good to do so now. We’re going to enjoy the rest of this incredible journey, and I want to express our massive gratitude to the BBC and every single person who pours their heart and soul into making the show what it is. It’s been a truly amazing experience!
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.’
Tess announced that after 21 wonderful years, she’s leaving Strictly Come Dancing.
‘It’s hard to put it into words what this show has meant to me, so here goes…
Strictly Come Dancing has been a massive part of my life since it started in 2004 – it’s felt like raising a third child and being part of a second family. It’s been much more than just a TV show.
‘I knew then it was something special, but I could never have imagined the magic it would bring.
Strictly has always been a show about happiness, fun, and connecting with others, and I’m incredibly proud to have contributed to something that brings so much joy to so many people.
I’ve always been incredibly impressed by our amazing professional dancers, our wonderful judges, and all the celebrities who’ve been a part of the show.
I truly love our amazing team – every single person involved in Strictly has worked incredibly hard to create the show we all enjoy.
I’m so grateful for all the fun, friendship, and wonderful memories we’ve shared over the years. You’ve brought so much joy into my life, and I’ll cherish that always. I’m going to miss you all terribly.
To all of you watching, thank you so much for letting us into your homes for the past twenty years and more.
My dearest Claud, it’s been such a wonderful experience sharing this journey with you. You’re truly special, and I’ll always cherish our laughs, performances, and all the fun we’ve had behind the scenes.
I’ll always love glitter, sequins, and the fun of Saturday nights – I could never give those up! Strictly Come Dancing will always be incredibly special to me, but I feel now is the right moment to step down.
Claudia also shared some candid photos of her and Tess working on the show, celebrating her own time with the series.
Honestly, it’s hard to even begin to describe what being on Strictly has meant to me. It’s truly been the most incredible professional experience of my life – the best ‘relationship’ I’ve ever had at work, if that makes sense! It’s been so much more than just a job.
I’ve cherished working on ‘It Takes Two’ since 2004, and I’ll always be grateful for the experience.
I’ll always remember Len Goodman attempting to explain what a ‘cucaracha’ is – I’m still not sure I ever understood! – and how exciting and special it was to work with Tess, from being on the results show to eventually co-hosting on Saturday nights.
Strictly is a wonderfully over-the-top show, full of sparkle and glamour, and I’ve been so happy to have been a small part of it.
Everyone involved in the show was truly exceptional – the dancers, the band, the costume and makeup artists, and the entire production team. It was an amazing effort from all!
I’ve always thought it’s better to leave a party while you’re still enjoying yourself, and I’m sure the new hosts will be fantastic. I’m excited to see them do great things with Strictly.
I feel incredibly lucky to have met and spent time with Tess. She’s hilarious, genuinely kind, incredibly intelligent, and a wonderful friend – I truly cherish our connection.
For eleven years, Claudia has been known as the supportive host of Strictly Come Dancing. However, her popularity has significantly increased thanks to the success of shows like The Traitors and Celebrity Traitors, and reports suggest she’s now considering new projects outside of Strictly.
There are strong rumors she’s moving to ITV, where she’d likely earn much more than her current £150,000 annual salary for hosting Strictly with her colleague.
After telling Tess how she felt, I was so relieved to see her stick to our agreement to leave the show together. She really felt like she’d done enough with it and deserved to move on, and I completely agreed. It meant a lot to me that she honored our promise, and I’m proud to support her decision.
Recently, Tess has suggested she might be stepping down as the main host. Claudia, meanwhile, shared that she had difficult conversations with show producers about balancing work with family commitments, specifically needing to help her son move away to start university.
According to a source close to the show, Claudia has a lot of experience, but her appearance on The Traitors has significantly increased her popularity and made her more sought-after than 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 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 as a pair.
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2025-10-24 11:55