Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly have announced that they are stepping down as hosts of Strictly Come Dancing.
In a post on both presenters’ Instagram accounts, Winkleman said: “There have been some rumblings and we want you to hear this from us.”
Daly continued: “We have some news. After 21 wonderfully joyful years on Strictly we have decided that the time is right to step aside and pass over the baton.”
“The very sparkly baton!” added Winkleman.
“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 …”
“We will cry when we say our last ‘Keep dancing!’ but we will continue to say it to each other. Just possibly in tracksuit bottoms at home while holding some pizza!”
Daly has hosted Strictly Come Dancing since 2004, when she co-presented the show alongside Bruce Forsyth. After he left the series in 2013, he was replaced by Winkleman, who had been hosting companion show Strictly: It Takes Two, as well as joining Daly on the Sunday night results shows since 2010.
The duo have announced that they will continue to host the BBC dance contest until the end of the current series, which is the 23rd outing for the long-running entertainment format.
“It’s very difficult to put into words exactly what Strictly has meant to me. It’s been the greatest relationship of my career,” said Winkleman. “Strictly is a magical, glittery, fake tanned train and it’s been a privilege to be a tiny part of it … 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.”
