The iconic Strictly Come Dancing co-hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman celebrated the end of an era in spectacular fashion, letting their hair down with a wild night of partying after the show's final broadcast from the legendary Blackpool Tower Ballroom.
A Night to Remember: Shots and Sentiment
Swapping their glamorous on-screen gowns for matching 'I Heart Blackpool' t-shirts, the up-for-it duo were seen downing shots of £85 tequila. The party marked their last ever trip to the northern town as hosts of the hit BBC series, following their shock announcement in October that they would be stepping down after this run.
Claudia Winkleman was spotted holding a bottle of Patrón XO Cafe, a coffee-infused tequila that made headlines when a public petition was launched to bring it back after Bacardi halted production four years ago. The pair proved they still know how to have a good time, hitting the bar for a proper send-off.
Blackpool's Grand Finale: Glamour and Goodbyes
The evening was also emotionally charged. A beaming Tess Daly, 56, shared a carousel of photos on social media from the special broadcast, showcasing her stunning black velvet and sparkling white outfits. She posed with Strictly professionals and celebrity contestant La Voix, who sadly had to pull out of the competition due to injury on Sunday night.
The former model captioned her post, 'Blackpool you didn’t disappoint! From the warmest of welcomes to some truly incredible routines from our brilliant couples; the only downside - having to bid the fondest of farewells to @lavoixtheshow She’ll be very much missed by us all xx'.
Star-Studded Routines and Fan Frenzy
The Sunday night special was not short on spectacle. Alongside the dances from the remaining celebrity couples, viewers were treated to a special performance reuniting former stars.
Danny Mac, Ashley Roberts, Layton Williams, and Jay McGuiness all returned to the famous dancefloor to perform their most legendary routines with the professional dancers. This included Jay and Ashley's iconic Jives, Danny's jaw-dropping Samba, and Layton's incredible Quickstep.
Fans were particularly thrilled by Danny Mac's return, with one viewer writing on X, 'Danny Mac has made my weekend hahah'. Another penned, 'danny mac descending from the blackpool tower ballroom ceiling with his bedazzled shirt open, chest on show, ready to samba his way back into our hearts like it’s 2016 all over again'.
The night was a fittingly grand and emotional last hurrah for Tess and Claudia, who had previously spoken of a 'pact' that if one left, the other would follow. In a joint statement about their departure, they confirmed the Christmas Special would be their last on-air appearance, quipping, "We will cry when we say the last 'keep dancing' but we will continue to say it to each other. Just possibly in tracksuit bottoms at home while holding some pizza."
