Some unexpected celebrities are on the list
Strictly Come Dancing viewers were left in shock when Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman revealed their intention to leave the dance programme in a bombshell announcement. The presenting duo declared they were “always going to leave together and now feels like the right time”. The pair will bow out at the conclusion of the current series, with the Christmas special scheduled to be their final programme.
Last Friday (October 24), reports emerged that Claudia – who also presents Traitors and Celebrity Traitors – is in advanced discussions to front her own chat show. The BBC has declined to comment, reports the Express.
Theories have been swirling over who will claim Tess and Claudia’s prized positions on the Strictly dance floor. Two unexpected celebrities could be frontrunners, according to former Strictly performer, Vincent Simone.
The professional dancer, 46, who featured on the programme from 2006 to 2012, has revealed who might succeed the show’s presenters in a surprising revelation.
Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk on behalf of Paddy Power Games, he said: “It’s hard to predict. I think the BBC should go for people who are already well-known and experienced – not newcomers. Familiar faces that the audience already trusts, like Paddy McGuinness or even Noel Edmonds. If you bring in big names the public already loves, they’ll go along with the change more easily.”
He also expressed his “shock” upon discovering Tess and Claudia would be departing the dance competition. Vincent expressed his surprise, saying: “It was a real shock to the system to find out about Tess and Claudia! I heard the news while driving to a show.”
He added: “Someone in the van said, ‘Tess and Claudia are leaving!’ and I went, ‘What?!’ That’s the shock of the year for me. Maybe if one of them had left it’d make sense, but both at once – that’s huge.”
In the meantime, other celebrities such as Holly Willoughby, Janette Manrara and Maya Jama have been suggested as potential replacements for Tess and Claudia.
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