Television presenter Bradley Walsh has sent speculation into overdrive after he was photographed at the Strictly Come Dancing studio, fuelling intense rumours that he is the frontrunner to replace departing hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.
Strictly Speculation Reaches Fever Pitch
The 65-year-old star, who currently hosts ITV's The Chase and Gladiators, was seen backstage over the weekend, posing for a selfie with the dance show's crew. This surprise appearance comes after Daly and Winkleman sensationally announced in a joint video in October that they would be stepping down from the primetime BBC programme at the end of the current series.
Bradley's visit occurred during a break in filming for The Chase. Conveniently, both popular programmes are filmed at Elstree Studios in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire. The head dressmaker for Strictly, Theresa Hewlett, shared the cheerful photo on X (formerly Twitter), captioning it, "The Chase is filmed next door and he popped in to say hi. What a lovely man Bradley Walsh is!"
Inside the Rumoured Hosting Shake-Up
According to industry insiders, Bradley is not just casually visiting. A source told The Sun, "Bradley's appearance in the studio has certainly set tongues wagging. Bosses are keen for Bradley to take over. He is a real pro and has brilliant experience hosting live shows." The source added that producers are seeking a "safe pair of hands to steady the ship" following the major presenting shake-up.
It is understood that the role would see Bradley host as part of a duo, with a female co-presenter by his side. The current favourite to join him is reportedly Alex Jones, a presenter on The One Show and a former Strictly contestant from 2011. Another insider revealed, "Alex and Bradley are both the favourites to take over from Tess and Claudia... they have been in the BBC’s sights for some time." They also noted that while "nothing is set in stone yet", discussions have been moving in a "really positive direction".
What's Next for Strictly?
The departure of the show's beloved long-time hosts, Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, was a significant moment for the nation's favourite dance competition. In their joint announcement, they expressed that hosting had been "an absolute dream" but that "now feels like the right time" to leave together.
With Bradley Walsh now the odds-on favourite and reportedly in final talks for the job, his backstage visit is being interpreted as the biggest hint yet that a new era for Strictly Come Dancing is just on the horizon. All eyes will be on the BBC to make an official announcement in the coming weeks.
