Some fans warned they would ‘stop watching’ the programme
Strictly Come Dancing fans have confessed that one potential replacement for Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman might make them ‘stop watching’ the programme entirely.
Tess, 56, and Claudia, 53, sent shockwaves through the fanbase when they revealed they would be departing Strictly at the end of the current series. Rumours are already swirling about who might succeed the legendary presenting partnership, who have fronted the BBC show together since 2014.
Rylan Clark has emerged as one of the leading candidates to take over from the duo, alongside other top contenders such as Zoe Ball, Holly Willoughby, Stacey Dooley and Kevin Clifton. However, it seems not everybody is enthusiastic about the This Morning host, 37, becoming part of the Strictly line-up, as numerous viewers flocked to social media to voice their objections, reports the Express.
One viewer stated: “Watching Strictly and the two girls, Tess and Claud are leaving the show at the end of the season. I’m telling you now, if they have Rylan as a presenter, I will never watch it again.”
A second said: “Sorry @bbcstrictly but if @Rylan comes anywhere near Strictly Come Dancing Saturday or Sunday shows… I’m off! No thanks.”
A third person commented: “But not Rylan. He’s one of those blokes you see on TV, and you think “he’s OK,” but I wouldn’t want to watch him every Saturday night for three months.”
Another viewer remarked: “If Rylan Clark or Alison Hammond Roman Kemp?? Take over strictly, I’ll never watch it again!! Surely Emma Willis & Janette Manrara are much better choices.”
Despite some of the harsh opinions, others admitted they would welcome the X Factor star with open arms, believing he is perfect for the role.
One viewer said: “I think that Robert Rinder and Rylan Clark, would be a brilliant choice as hosts. To take over from Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. On #Strictly Come Dancing, that’s just my view but I think that they would be a brilliant choice,”.
Another posted: “Rylan was fab on It Takes Two. I would love him as presenter.” A third added: “Zoe Ball and Rylan would be my favourite choices to take over from Tess and Claudia on Strictly Come Dancing.”
Also supporting Rylan as a candidate, someone else shared: “Gutted about Tess and Claudia but I guess it was going to happen one day. If I had to choose to replace, it would be La Voix and Rylan as the new hosts.”
Betfair Slots were the first to release their odds, naming The Chase host Bradley Walsh. He was ahead of Rylan in second place, with Alison Hammond in third. However, Casino Bets has a different frontrunner, with Holly Willoughby as the 2/1 favourite.
Tess and Claudia confirmed their exit in a joint statement, telling fans: “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.”
The statement continued: “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.”
They added: “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.”
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