Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman Exit Strictly Come Dancing: End of an Era

Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman have announced they will step down from Strictly Come Dancing at the end of the current series, with the Christmas special set to be their final show. In a joint statement, they said: “We have loved working as a duo and hosting Strictly has been an absolute dream.”

Their departure has sparked speculation about who will replace them. Potential candidates include Roman Kemp, Hannah Waddingham, AJ Odudu, Stacey Dooley, Alan Carr, Holly Willoughby, and Alison Hammond. Some producers may also consider presenters from the show’s spin-off, Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two.

TV editor Caroline Frost described Daly and Winkleman as “a formidable presenting duo” and suggested the show may undergo a rebrand rather than ending, noting its continued popularity. The BBC called it “the end of an era” and praised the pair as “incredible hosts.”

This Weekend on Strictly

The 11 remaining couples will perform in Icons Week, celebrating music legends with songs by Beyoncé, Harry Styles, Ariana Grande, and others. Highlights include:

• Alex & Johannes – Foxtrot to Here You Come Again (Dolly Parton)

• Amber & Nikita – Cha Cha Cha to Break Free (Ariana Grande)

• Balvinder & Julian – Quickstep to Texas Hold ‘Em (Beyoncé)

• George & Alexis – Jive to As It Was (Harry Styles)

Hollywood actress Rachel Zegler will perform Don’t Cry for Me Argentina during Sunday’s results show.

Neighbours star Stefan Dennis withdrew from the competition due to a calf injury. His partner, Dianne Buswell, will continue in the series without a replacement, leaving three couples in contention for the final.

Fans can also expect professional dancers to pay tribute to Britney Spears, while judges appear in costume as different icons. The usual dance-off will decide the bottom two couples.