After 15 years at the helm, Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman have announced they are leaving Strictly Come Dancing at the end of this year's series. The duo confirmed the news on Instagram, saying: 'We have loved working as a duo, and hosting Strictly has been an absolute dream. We were always going to leave together and now feels like the right time.'
The departure leaves a significant gap in the show's hosting line-up. Daly has been the steadying presence since the show's revamp in 2004, navigating changes to the judging panel, the deaths of Bruce Forsyth and Len Goodman, and various scandals. Winkleman, meanwhile, is expected to focus on her role as host of The Traitors.
Among the potential replacements, Anton Du Beke is a strong contender. The professional dancer has long been tipped as a successor to Forsyth, although some fear his eagerness may have made him yesterday's man. Other names in the mix include former contestants such as Bill Bailey, Gemma Atkinson, and Angela Scanlon, as well as It Takes Two presenters Rylan Clark and Fleur East.
The BBC may also consider recruiting from the show's pool of professional dancers. Oti Mabuse, a two-time winner who now hosts her own ITV breakfast show, is a possible candidate, perhaps paired with her former partner Bill Bailey. However, the network is likely to proceed cautiously, as dancing ability does not guarantee presenting skills.
Whoever takes over will have a tough act to follow, but Strictly Come Dancing remains a ratings powerhouse, and the search for its new hosts is already underway.
