The long-running BBC One dance competition Strictly Come Dancing is set for a major presenter shake-up, as hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman have confirmed they will leave the series at the end of the current run.
A New Era for the Glitterball
The duo, who have become synonymous with the show's weekend entertainment, will bow out for good after the grand finale on December 20. The BBC is now actively seeking their replacements, with the new hosting line-up expected to be in place from January.
Current contestant and internet sensation George Clarke, who has surprisingly waltzed his way into the quarter-finals, believes the change can only be positive. "They're big shoes to fill, but actually, I don't think it should be about trying to fill shoes," the 26-year-old from Bristol said. "It's just a way to put a new lease of life into the show."
When pressed on who should take over, Clarke admitted he had "not got a Scooby". His focus remains on the competition, where he finds himself in a two-horse race for the Glitterball Trophy with footballer Karen Carney, according to bookmakers.
George Clarke's Unlikely Dance Journey
Clarke's journey on the show has been a shock even to himself. "I don't think any of us expected it," he admitted, revealing he is still surprised when judges score him above a five. Despite scoring an impressive 39 for his samba in Blackpool and reportedly topping the public vote weekly, his modesty persists. "People ask me 'Did you know you were gonna be good?' and my brain is still 'I don't dance, what are you on about?'"
This weekend, he and his professional partner Alexis Warr, 25, will attempt to reach the semi-final during musicals week with an Argentine Tango to *The Point of No Return* from *Phantom of the Opera*. It's an interesting choice for Clarke, who confesses he is no fan of musical theatre. "I feel like the musicals I hated are the ones I've been conned into thinking are just a regular film, and then suddenly they break out into song," he laughed.
A Personal Tribute and Future Plans
For Clarke, the most meaningful dance so far was last month's Rumba, dedicated to his family and his mother, Nicky. She was diagnosed with the brain inflammation condition encephalitis a decade ago and has more recently been battling cancer. Danced to Keane's *Somewhere Only We Know*, the performance was a poignant moment to raise awareness for the Encephalitis International charity.
"It wasn't 'woe is me'," he explained. "It was much more that it is such an unknown disease... So it felt like a good time as any to say something about it." The dance scored 29 points, but to Clarke, it was a personal triumph.
As the competition nears its end, both Clarke and Warr are astonished by how quickly it has passed. While physically ready for a rest, Clarke says he won't be ready mentally. He plans to keep dancing with his model girlfriend, Yasmin Bennett, and is open to new opportunities, including panel shows like *Would I Lie to You?* or *Taskmaster*.
However, his primary focus remains his YouTube career. "The internet is so volatile," he noted, "it really depends on how long people are interested." For now, his attention is on the dance floor, as Strictly prepares to say an emotional goodbye to two of its most familiar faces and welcome a new chapter.
