Strictly Come Dancing's iconic presenting duo, Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, brought their signature glamour to the BBC ballroom for week seven of the competition this Saturday, all while confirming this will be their final series together.
A Fond Farewell After a Decade
The presenters, who recently announced they will be stepping back from the show once the current run concludes, took a moment to pose for photographs backstage. Both opted for elegant all-black outfits, with Tess, 56, stunning in a fitted halterneck dress complemented by classic stiletto heels and soft, loose curls.
Her co-host Claudia, 53, dazzled in a sequined sparkly blouse paired with matching trousers, accessorising her look with gold jewellery. The pair have been the familiar faces of the show since 2014, when Claudia took over from the legendary Bruce Forsyth.
Drama and Surprises on the Dancefloor
While the hosts' future was a major talking point, the competition on the dancefloor was as fierce as ever. The episode saw a standout performance from former reality TV star Vicky Pattison, who was left utterly gobsmacked after topping the leaderboard.
Vicky and her professional partner Kai Widdrington delivered what judge Anton Du Beke described as an ‘immaculate’ Tango to ‘The Fate of Ophelia’ by Taylor Swift, earning a massive 39 points. An astonished Du Beke exclaimed, ‘You’re line is the best line I have ever seen, ever! It was immaculate. I’m a bit stunned it was that good!'
Even the notoriously hard-to-please Craig Revel Horwood admitted that, aside from a minor critique on arm placement, the routine was 'perfect.'
In stark contrast, athlete Harry Aikines-Aryeetey found himself at the bottom of the scoreboard with just 26 points after he and partner Karen Hauer danced the Samba to Gloria Estefan's 'Samba'.
The End of an Era for Strictly
The confirmation of Tess and Claudia's departure, which was announced last month via their respective social media channels, marks the end of a significant chapter for Strictly Come Dancing. In a joint video, Claudia addressed the 'rumblings' directly, with Tess adding, 'after 21 wonderfully joyful years on Strictly, we have decided that the time is right to step aside and pass over the baton.'
Reflecting on their long tenure, Tess pointed out that the show has been a 'huge part of our lives since our children were literally babes in arms, and now they're adults.' Claudia echoed the sentiment, praising the 'amazing show' and thanking the entire Strictly team.
With their exit confirmed, speculation is already mounting about who will take over the hosting reins, with names like current contestant La Voix and It Takes Two's Zoe Ball being suggested as potential successors.
