After more than two decades of sparkle, sequins and Saturday night joy, beloved presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman have announced that they will be leaving Strictly Come Dancing at the end of this year’s series.
The duo revealed the news in a joint Instagram video, saying it “now feels like the right time” to hand over the “sparkly baton” to a new team.
Daly, who has hosted the show since it first launched in 2004 alongside the late Sir Bruce Forsyth, and Winkleman, who joined full time in 2014, thanked fans and colleagues for more than 20 years of support.
“We have loved working as a duo and hosting Strictly has been an absolute dream,” they said in a joint statement. “We were always going to leave together and now feels like the right time. 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.”
In the video, recorded from a cosy sofa, Winkleman told fans: “There have been some rumblings, and we want you to hear this from us.”
Daly added:
“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,” Winkleman chimed in.
Reflecting on their journey together, Daly said the show had been a huge part of their lives.
“Since our children were literally babies in arms, and now they’re young adults, we have cherished every second,” she said.
The pair expressed deep gratitude to the production team, the professional dancers, and especially the audience who have made Strictly a national treasure.
“They’ve been with us for this entire journey of 21 years,” Daly said. “We wouldn’t have a show without them, and they’ve been just so loyal and supportive.”
Both presenters promised viewers that the current series will be celebrated in style, including a special “show dance” of their own.
Winkleman, who also fronts The Traitors, described Strictly as “the greatest relationship of my career.”
“From working on It Takes Two in 2004 until now, it has been my everything, the show I will be eternally grateful for,” she wrote on Instagram. “Strictly is a magical, glittery fake tanned train and it’s been a privilege to be a tiny part of it.”
She added a heartfelt message to her long time co host,
“As for Tess, I’m so so lucky I got to stand next to you. You’re funny, kind, whip smart and a true friend and I love you.”
Daly also paid tribute to Winkleman, calling her “beloved” and reflecting on their friendship,
“What an absolute joy and pleasure it has been sharing this adventure with you. You’re one of a kind and I’ll treasure every giggle, every live show and every backstage moment we’ve shared.”
She added that while it may be time to “hand over the reins”, it’s not a “goodbye to glitter, sequins or Saturday night sparkle.”
Since joining the show, Daly and Winkleman have become two of Britain’s best loved television hosts, praised for their warmth, humour and genuine friendship. Both were recognised with MBEs earlier this year for their services to broadcasting.
Tributes poured in from colleagues and former contestants. Strictly professional Dianne Buswell said, “These ladies will be missed.” Former contestant Clara Amfo added, “Salute to you both, you two do it with such genuine joy towards each other. Big respect!”
Former It Takes Two host Rylan Clark called them a “pair of icons”, while dancer Oti Mabuse described them as “incredible to work with, thank you for all the beautiful memories, for representing female presenters and being iconic.”
As for who might replace them, fans and commentators are already speculating, with names such as It Takes Two hosts Janette Manrara and Fleur East mentioned as potential successors.
Whatever comes next, Tess and Claudia’s impact on Strictly Come Dancing, and on British Saturday nights, is sure to shine on.
“We will cry when we say the last ‘keep dancing’,” the pair said with a smile. “But we will continue to say it to each other. Just possibly in tracksuit bottoms at home while holding some pizza.”
