Presenters up and down the country will be polishing their CVs and applying six layers of fake tan after news broke today that there is a major job vacancy in TV entertainment. Actually, two: long-time hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman together made the shock announcement that this current series of Strictly Come Dancing is their last waltz.
So, who will the beleaguered programme be lining up to replace them? This is a big decision after a particularly troubled period in Strictly’s history. Get it right and it could rejuvenate the show. Get it wrong and it could be Murder on the Dancefloor.
It’s also a particularly tricksy bit of casting for the BBC. They don’t just need one brilliant presenter, they need a duo with a great connection who viewers will buy as a partnership. An established pairing with proven chemistry might well have an advantage – or the producers could take a gamble by picking two relative strangers who, between them, cover a wide range of demographics.
Here are our predictions of possible duos in the race to succeed Tess and Claudia:
Mel Giedroyc and Sue Perkins
