Strictly Come Dancing hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly have announced they are leaving the BBC dance programme.
In a joint statement shared on Instagram on Thursday, the co-hosts said they would be leaving the show together at the end of the current series.
Follow live updates and reaction below
A look back at a rocky few years for Strictly…
The departure of the Saturday night stalwarts adds to a growing list of concerning issues surrounding Strictly – including an dwindling calibre of stars, a sex scandal, drug investigation, accusations of abuse and loose-lipped pros.
Among the headline-hitting controversies was the investigation into the behaviour of Wynne Evans, after he was caught on camera making a sexual comment about ‘spit roasts’ to long-standing pro Janette Manrara.
Elsewhere, Zara McDermott detailed her distressing experience of ‘abuse’ from pro Graziano Di Prima, Giovanni Pernice has been plagued with bullying allegations and an increasing number of dancers have broken ranks to speak against the show.
A ratings war with Claudia’s other TV mega-hit The Traitors is another hint at the future of the show, while experts have predicted the duo’s joint departure could be due to the impact being on a sinking ship could mean for their careers.
Read more about Tess and Claudia’s exit pact
The two have grown very close over the 11 years of presenting side by side, and promised each other that they would quit together.
Claudia previously told The Mirror: ‘Tess and I will leave at the same time. We’ve made that pact over pizza.
‘We’ll go together, whenever they’re done with us.’
Who will replace Tess and Claudia as hosts on Strictly?
Read more here:
Read more here: Did Tess hint at her exit?
Will the show survive without Tess and Claudia?
Check out The Daily Mail’s poll of the day
Judge Motsi Mabuse says she is ‘speechless’ by the news
Posting on her Instagram Story after the news broke she said she was ‘speechless’ and that the news was the ‘end of an era’.
Life before Strictly: The career histories of Tess and Claudia
Winkleman began her career as a TV and radio presenter fronting a range of BBC TV shows including Comic Relief and The Great British Sewing Bee.
She went on to present a range of programmes on BBC Radio 2 until 2024, including the comedy quiz series Hot Gossip, the Claudia Winkleman Arts Show and Claudia On Sunday.
The Bafta-winning broadcaster also presents the hit BBC game show The Traitors, and its spin-off series, The Celebrity Traitors, and won best entertainment performance at the 2023 awards.
Daly first appeared on TV in 1999 as the host of The Big Breakfast’s Find Me A Model competition on Channel 4.
She went on to present a range of shows and awards including ITV’s makeover show Home On Their Own, replacing Ulrika Jonsson in 2003, co-hosted Channel 5’s Back To Reality with Richard Bacon and presented the annual charity appeal show BBC Children In Need numerous time
More celebrities react to the news
Television presenter, Helen Skelton, who appeared as a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing in 2022 said whoever steps in to replace Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly has ‘big shoes to fill.’
‘You look at Tess’s eyes when you finish a dance. On behalf of everyone who’s been on that dance floor, you look at Tess for reassurance – and Claudia for a laugh,’ she told BBC 5 Live.
‘It’s a real shame. They’ve served that show so well. It’s going to leave a massive hole. I can’t for one second think that was an easy decision. It’s become their identity.
‘Tess has done the show for 21 years; it’s been her whole life. So, I think people will be sad when they go.
‘Whoever steps into it next has big shoes to fill.’
Watch their exit announcement video HERE:
The pair are pictured on their last show before the announcement
Last Saturday they hosted the show as usual – both wearing matching white outfits.
It marked the final show before they made the announcement that they would leave.
‘These ladies will be missed’: Strictly pros and celebs react to shock exit
Strictly Come Dancing professional Dianne Buswell said ‘these ladies will be missed,’ as she reposted Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly’s Instagram video announcement.
Former contestant and DJ Clara Amfo said:
This is quite surreal. Salute to you both, shouldn’t be radical for two women to present prime time TV together, you two do it with such genuine joy towards each other. Big respect!
Former It Takes Two presenter Rylan Clark said:
Adore you both the world. The biggest pleasure working with you both. Pair of icons xxx.
Former Strictly professional Oti Mabuse said:
Wow! How devastating. You two have been incredible to work with – thank you so much for all the beautiful memories, for representing females presenters, being iconic, the laughs and years of family you’ve given all us. From the beginning you were the highlight of our weekends! Wish you both luck – I will miss you so much!!!
Fans of the show are devastated by the news
Heartbroken viewers have been sharing their reactions to the shock news on X.
BBC bosses feared Claudia’s exit, reports claimed
Earlier this year it was alleged that BBC bosses had been scrambling to keep Claudia after fears arose that she would quit the series.
Sources told Closer magazine that bosses had been left ‘anxious’ about the programme’s future, adding: ‘Bosses are anxious that the lack of big-name celebrities could dampen ratings and, behind the scenes, they’ve been leaning on Claudia to help steady the ship.
‘She’s the face the public trusts. She’s hugely popular, and they know she’s the safest pair of hands they’ve got. But the truth is, she’s under enormous pressure and fears are growing that it could all lead to her quitting the show.’
The source added that while Claudia ‘adores’ working on Strictly, she feels ‘stretched’ and ‘wonders if something has to give’ in her career.
‘Strictly has been an absolute dream’: How Tess and Claudia announced exit
The hosts, who have been presenting the BBC One dancing competition together since 2014, took to Instagram to break the news to fans on Thursday.
Claudia, 53, and Tess, 56, who first joined the series back in 2004, were seen sitting side by side in the clip that confirmed their departure.
Speaking to the camera, Claudia began: ‘There have been some rumblings and we want you to hear this from us.’
Tess chimed in: ‘We have news, after 21 wonderfully joyful years on Strictly, we have decided that the time is right to step aside and pass over the baton.’
‘The very sparkly baton!’ Claudia laughed, before turning to her co-star and pal to add: ‘You’ve been here since the beginning.’
Tess replied, pointing to Claudia: ‘With Bruce, lovely Bruce [Forsyth], and that was over two decades ago but a lot of the time has been with you.
‘It’s been a huge part of our lives since our children were literally babes in arms, and now they’re adults, and I think genuinely we have cherished every second.’
Claudia continued: ‘We have, we’re so lucky to have been part of this amazing show and we just want to thank the Strictly team, because Strictly is the people who make it.’
The duo penned under the video:
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. We will have the greatest rest of this amazing series and we just want to say an enormous thank you to the BBC and to every single person who works on the show.
They’re the most brilliant team and we’ll miss them every day. 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 Winkleman and Tess Daly QUIT Strictly Come Dancing
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage as Strictly Come Dancing hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman announce they will quit the series later this year.
Stick with us as we bring you the latest updates and reaction on this breaking news story.
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