Claudia Winkleman sobs over looming Strictly exit causing fans to fear for show’s future

Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly are struggling to hold it together in their final days as Strictly Come Dancing hosts.

In the last results show of the series, and the last one the duo will front together, Claudia and Tess were honoured by the programme with a celebration of their 20-year tenure.

And what followed were lots of tears.

Judges Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Anton Du Beke, and Motsi Mabuse surprised the pair with a best-bits montage, taking viewers on a trip down memory lane before the broadcasters bow out of the ballroom for good.

The highlights reel began with some serious throwback footage (and hairstyles) of Tess hosting Strictly with the late, great Sir Bruce Forsyth, before Claudia became her right-hand woman in 2014.

Claudia, 53, and Tess, 56, were then treated to personal messages from the panel, with Shirley declaring them ‘magic’ together and Motsi praising how ‘welcoming’ they were when she became a judge.

‘I, for sure, am gonna miss them deeply,’ said head judge Shirley.

‘Really, really special people,’ added Motsi, before Craig branded them with his famous catchphrase: ‘Tess and Claudia are fab-u-lous!’

As the beloved double act watched along with smiles while holding hands, the studio then erupted into cheers and applause, Shirley, Craig, Anton, and Motsi offering a standing ovation.

‘We love you,’ Claudia said, wiping tears from her face.

Professional dancer Kai Widdrington was also on hand to gift Claudia and Tess with a golden Glitter Ball trophy each as a tangible reminder of their Strictly success.

‘And can I just say, that’s not for dancing,’ Craig joked, to which Claudia quipped back: ‘I think that’s clear.’

As Tess thanked the foursome for their ‘gorgeous words’, Claudia added: ‘We’re so lucky. You four and everybody who makes the team … it’s been an honour.’

‘You guys are like family to us, and we’ll always feel like that about you,’ said Tess through sniffles. ‘The whole team is just the best team, and we’ve had the most amazing time.’

Reacting to the sweet moment, viewers took to X to express their sadness, the reality now sinking in that Strictly 2026 is going to look very different.

In fact, some fear for the BBC show’s future once Claudia and Tess depart.

‘i really cannot imagine strictly without tess and claudia’, @notjanpeteh wrote on X.

‘This joke of Tess and Claudia leaving has gone on too long now…’, said @alexanderls3. ‘When are they gonna tell us it was all a lie?’

‘I am not emotionally prepared to lose Claudia and Tess next week’, wrote @alexr_241.

@leons_lifespan said that ‘no other hosts are gonna be like Tess and Claudia’, while @ka_morian0121 wrote: ‘I’M SOBBING SO HARD !!!!!’

Others called them the ‘heart’ of Strictly and said their exit marks the ‘end of an era’.

‘Bro how is this show gonna survive without Tess and Claudia’, added @sugwellsmarkle.

Semi-final eliminated contestant Balvinder Sopal also took a moment to praise Claudia and Tess in her speech after she lost out in the final dance-off to Amber Davies.

She told Tess: ‘I’m grateful that I got to be on the show on your last moment here as well, because you, for me, are what Strictly is about.

‘You’re the era of Len Goodman and Bruce Forsyth, and that’s when I started watching it, and that, for me, is really special.’

It remains to be seen who will take over from Claudia and Tess next series, but there are plenty of big names floating around.

According to TV sources, the BBC is set to hold a chemistry day to test out potential pairings for the role.

Currently, The Chase host Bradley Walsh and The One Show’s Alex Jones are the favourites.

However, an allegedly leaked list of 10 presenters shows some other British broadcasting stalwarts are being considered.

Alongside Bradley and Alex, those in the running are Alan Carr, Rylan Clark, Rob Rinder, Zoe Ball, Holly Willoughby, Amanda Holden, Alison Hammond, and Angela Scanlon.

Strictly detectives are now working overtime to see who is dropping clues about potentially booking the glitzy gig, with Zoe’s recent exit from BBC Radio 2’s weekend show causing quite a stir.

As one of the frontrunners, the former It Takes Two host announcing yesterday that she’s stepping down from afternoons on the airwaves made many think it’s because she’s booked something major for next year.

She’d certainly prove a popular choice, although insiders claim bosses want to try something new when it comes to forming a double act.

‘Strictly bosses want to mix things up and see if there is a partnership within the 10 that hasn’t been tried out before and is perfect,’ they told The Sun.

‘Ultimately, no one is bigger than the show, so whichever lucky pair land the jobs will be the ones who the BBC think will be the perfect accompaniment to the series.’

Tess joined Strictly in its first series in 2004. She hosted with legendary entertainer Sir Bruce until 2013, as he retired ahead of his death aged 89 in 2017.

Claudia fronted spin-off show It Takes Two on BBC Two until 2010, at which point Zoe took over.

As the Traitors host and her co-star prepare to bid Strictly goodbye (but not before the pre-recorded Christmas special airs on Christmas Day), audiences are predicting further movement among the Strictly family.

While next year’s pro dancer lineup is yet to be announced, the likes of Johannes Radebe and Nadiya Bychkova have found themselves at the centre of quitting rumours already.

Strictly Come Dancing’s 2025 final airs next Saturday on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.

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