Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman are reportedly being tipped for a return to Strictly Come Dancing just months after stepping down as hosts of the long-running dance show. The pair announced their departure from the BBC competition last year, with the Christmas special marking their final stint as presenters.
Odds on a comeback
Bookmaker William Hill has placed odds of 16/1 for either Claudia or Tess to compete as contestants in this year's series. A spokesperson for the bookmaker commented: "Claudia and Tess have been loyal servants to Strictly Come Dancing over the last twenty years, so it wouldn't surprise anyone if they made a comeback to the ballroom in some capacity."
Successor speculation
The BBC has yet to announce replacements for the duo, with names like Zoe Ball, Emma Willis, Bradley Walsh, and Rylan Clark rumoured to be in contention. Reports suggest chemistry tests are scheduled this week to finalise the new hosts. The programme is also undergoing significant changes to its professional dancer lineup following recent scandals.
Tess and Claudia's farewell
Announcing their exit last year, the presenters described their time on the show as "an absolute dream" but said it "feels like the right time" to leave. They wrote: "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." Tess, who holds a Guinness World Record for the longest-serving host of the same dance competition TV show, began presenting Strictly in 2004 alongside Sir Bruce Forsyth, later co-hosting with Claudia from 2014.
Strictly Come Dancing returns later this year on BBC One and iPlayer.
