Alan Carr has reportedly been ruled out as a potential host of Strictly Come Dancing, after a clash with his 2027 stand-up tour schedule left BBC bosses disappointed. The comedian, 49, was widely considered a leading contender to replace Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly, who departed the show after more than a decade.
According to reports, Carr's extensive tour for his show 'Have I Said Too Much?' includes around 90 dates, with a second leg running from September to November 2027 — directly overlapping with Strictly's autumn live broadcasts. A source told The Sun: 'Alan was firmly in the top tier of possible hosts... but after discussions, it became clear he simply couldn’t move his tour dates.'
With Carr out of the running, attention has turned to Rylan Clark as a new frontrunner. Other candidates reportedly include Bradley Walsh, Alex Jones, Rob Rinder, Zoe Ball, Holly Willoughby, Alison Hammond, Angela Scanlon, and Amanda Holden. The BBC is said to be conducting chemistry tests with shortlisted candidates, exploring same-sex and mixed partnerships to find a duo that matches the warmth of Winkleman and Daly.
The BBC has declined to comment on the speculation. Winkleman and Daly announced their joint departure in October, saying in a statement: 'Hosting Strictly has been an absolute dream. We were always going to leave together and now feels like the right time.' The search for their successors is expected to continue into the new year.
