Alan Carr has reportedly been ruled out as a potential host of Strictly Come Dancing after a clash with his extensive stand-up tour schedule left BBC bosses disappointed. The comedian, 49, was widely considered a leading contender to replace long-standing presenters Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly, who announced their joint departure in October.
According to reports, Carr's 2027 tour for his show Have I Said Too Much? includes around 90 dates, with a second leg running from September to November—directly overlapping with Strictly's autumn live broadcasts. A source told The Sun: “Alan was firmly in the top tier of possible hosts and was one of the BBC’s favourites. But after discussions, it became clear he simply couldn’t move his tour dates.”
Carr had enjoyed a surge in popularity following his winning appearance on Celebrity Traitors, which placed him firmly on the BBC’s wish list. Insiders said executives were keen to capitalise on his renewed profile but were ultimately forced to look elsewhere.
With Carr out of contention, attention has turned to Rylan Clark, who is said to have emerged as a new frontrunner. Other reported candidates include Bradley Walsh, Alex Jones, Rob Rinder, Zoe Ball, Holly Willoughby, Alison Hammond, Angela Scanlon and Amanda Holden. The BBC is believed to be putting shortlisted candidates through chemistry tests, pairing them in various combinations to explore fresh formats.
The BBC has declined to comment on the speculation. Winkleman and Daly left after more than a decade, saying in a joint statement: “Hosting Strictly has been an absolute dream. We were always going to leave together and now feels like the right time.” The search for their successors is expected to continue into the new year.
