Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman have announced they are leaving Strictly Come Dancing, fulfilling a pact to exit the show together. The presenting duo, who have hosted the BBC programme since 2014, said in a statement: '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 pair expressed gratitude to the BBC and the show's team, adding: 'We will cry when we say the last "keep dancing" but we will continue to say it to each other. Just possibly in tracksuit bottoms at home while holding some pizza.' Claudia had previously revealed that she and Tess made a pact over pizza to leave simultaneously.
Claudia, a mother of three, once told BBC executives she would not work on a date that clashed with taking her eldest son, Jake, to university. She recalled the emotional phone call on BBC Women's Hour, saying: 'I phoned the boss of Strictly quite dramatically and said, through tears, "Sarah I love you... if the first show is September 13, I'm out." She replied, 'Quite dramatic. We don't start that week.'
Despite their success, Claudia admitted to struggling with imposter syndrome, saying: 'I've got it in capital letters. Even if they phoned me now and said, "You're done", I'd still think I have had the best career possible.' The duo were awarded MBEs in the King's Birthday Honours for their contributions to broadcasting.
