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Strictly Host Search Intensifies After Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman Confirm Exit

The BBC has yet to name successors, with reports pointing to Bradley Walsh as a leading candidate.

Overview

  • Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman said in a joint video they will leave after the current series, with a final appearance on the Christmas special.
  • The BBC declined to comment on replacement reports and said decisions for the 2026 series will be made in due course.
  • Multiple outlets report Bradley Walsh is under serious consideration, with sources suggesting he could be paired with a female co-host such as Oti Mabuse or Fleur East.
  • Radio 2 presenter Zoe Ball publicly expressed interest in the vacancy, noting her past roles on It Takes Two and as a 2005 Strictly finalist.
  • Tabloid reports claim the duo planned a joint exit for about a year, that producers were blindsided, and that Claudia Winkleman is being lined up for a new chat show from Graham Norton's production company.