Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman have hosted Strictly Come Dancing together for a decade (Image: Guy Levy/BBC/PA Wire)
Co-hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman reportedly have a “pact” that they will leave Strictly Come Dancing together, with it teased that the new series may be their last.
Tess, 55, and Claudia, 52, have fronted the long-running BBC show together since 2014. Tess had previously hosted with the late Bruce Forsyth and her pal Claudia presented companion show It Takes Two for seven years before first joining her as a co-host for the results shows from 2011.
Strictly is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year but has in recent months faced claims about what it’s apparently been like behind-the-scenes in previous years. Former pros Giovanni Pernice, 34, and Graziano Di Prima, 30, both left the show ahead of the latest series amid allegations about them.
It’s now been claimed that Tess and Claudia have been “feeling the heat” and are considering leaving before a potential series next year. A source told Closer magazine: “Claudia and Tess are in it together. But both of them have said this could be their last year, and if one goes the other will follow. They’ve made a pact on that.”
The source said that Tess is feeling an “itch to spread her wings” after having been on Strictly since it began in 2004. The source claimed that she’s asking herself if, amid the anniversary, it’s time for to take a “final bow” as host.
It’s further claimed that she doesn’t want to be on a “sinking ship” and would prefer to “go out with a bang”. The source added that she’s facing a “crossroads” of whether to stay until “retirement” or leave to “see what’s out there”.
Tess Daly (centre) and Claudia Winkleman (right), pictured with colleague Anton Du Beke (left), host Strictly Come Dancing together ( Image: Ian West/PA Wire)
The source also said that Claudia “loves her job” but “hates all the negativity” that’s surrounded the show lately. It’s claimed she’s “on a mission” to ensure there are “no cracks, no fallouts and no tears” this year as the show moves forward.
There’s reportedly “only room” for Strictly in Claudia’s life at this year. The source said that it’s particularly “taking its toll” this year on her life outside of work with “more filming going on behind the scenes” amid the newly-launched series.
The scandal that has faced Strictly in recent months includes claims by actor Amanda Abbington, 50, who has said that she complained about her former dance partner Giovanni, whom she was paired up with on last year’s series. Amanda has made allegations of “bullying” and “aggressive behaviour,” but Giovanni has however denied “abusive or threatening behaviour”.
It was previously announced that Giovanni won’t be part of the new series, which launched last weekend, and he’ll be absent like former co-star Graziano, who left the show amid allegations over his behaviour in the rehearsal room after being partnered with Zara McDermott last year. Graziano has said that he “didn’t deliberately hurt anyone” and is “not an abusive man”.
Amid the controversy, the BBC previously announced that it was introducing “additional steps to strengthen welfare and support” moving forward. They are said to include now having a production team member present in training room rehearsals “at all times”.
