Comedian and presenter Alan Carr has been definitively ruled out of the running to become a new host of BBC One's flagship entertainment show, Strictly Come Dancing.
Tour Dates Force a Difficult Choice
The decision comes down to an immovable scheduling conflict. Alan Carr, 49, has a major 90-date UK and Ireland tour scheduled for 2027, with the second leg running from September through November. This period directly clashes with the live broadcast schedule of Strictly Come Dancing.
A BBC source confirmed the news, stating the broadcaster is "gutted" to have missed out on signing Carr, whose profile was boosted by his win on The Celebrity Traitors in November 2025. "He was their favourite to take on one of the positions," the source said, but the tour dates "are not able to be rearranged."
The Search for a New On-Screen Pairing
The hunt for new presenters was triggered by the departures of long-standing hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, whose final programme was the 2025 Christmas special. The BBC has reportedly whittled down a long list to a "Golden Ten" potential candidates who will undergo partner-swap chemistry tests to find the perfect pairing.
With Carr now out of contention, the focus shifts to other contenders. Rylan Clark, 37, a former host of Strictly's companion show It Takes Two, is understood to have moved up the list and is now one of the top choices. Bookmakers have slashed his odds to 5/2 to secure one of the coveted roles.
Who Else is in the Frame?
The list of other potential hosts undergoing chemistry tests is star-studded. Alongside Rylan Clark, it reportedly includes:
- Bradley Walsh
- Alex Jones
- Rob Rinder
- Zoe Ball
- Holly Willoughby
- Amanda Holden
- Alison Hammond
- Angela Scanlon
The insider emphasised that replacing the popular duo of Daly and Winkleman is a "mammoth task" for the BBC. The outcome will heavily depend on how candidates perform in the screen tests designed to assess their on-screen chemistry with each other.
While the BBC is said to understand Carr's commitment to his live tour, the loss of their reported frontrunner is a significant setback. The search for the new faces of one of television's most beloved shows continues, with audiences eagerly awaiting an announcement expected in 2026.
