It has been announced today that Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman are to leave Strictly Come Dancing after the latest series ends. A video of the two posted to the Instagram account of Tess, confirmed the news.
Both presenters have been a huge part of Strictly Come Dancing over the years, Tess joined the show from its inception in 2004, and worked alongside Bruce Forsyth. Claudia also joined in 2004 and presented its spin-off show, It Takes Two.
After departing the spin-off show, she went on to co-present the Sunday night results show alongside Tess in 2010 before the two began presenting the main programme 10 years ago. In her own message to fans, Claudia has explained her reasons for leaving and why the show has been so important to her over the years.
Sharing a picture hugging Tess, The Traitors star wrote: “It’s very difficult to put into words exactly what Strictly has meant to me. It’s been 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. I will never forget Len Goodman trying to teach me what a cucaracha is (I still don’t know) and the complete thrill and honour it was to work with Tess on the results show to co-hosting on Saturday nights.”
The 53-year-old added: “Strictly is a magical, glittery, fake tanned train and it’s been a privilege to be a tiny part of it. The extraordinary talent of the dancers, the band, the hair and makeup and costume teams, the unbelievable production crew and creatives – all utterly amazing.”
Offering further insight into her upcoming departure, she said: “I’ve always believed it’s best to leave a party before you’re fully ready to go and I know the new hosts will be magnificent, I look forward to watching them take Strictly to new heights. 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.”
A joint statement was also released on behalf of both Tess and Claudia this morning, it read: “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.”
Earlier this year, Claudia said she is “incredibly grateful” to have been made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the King’s Birthday Honours. The Traitors host was honoured alongside her Strictly Come Dancing co-host, Tess Daly, for services to broadcasting.
After graduating, she kick started her career as a TV and radio presenter, fronting a range of BBC TV shows including Comic Relief and The Great British Sewing Bee.
Claudia also presented on BBC Radio 2 until 2024, hosting different programmes on the station including the comedy quiz series Hot Gossip, the Claudia Winkleman Arts Show and Claudia On Sunday.