Strictly Come Dancing hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman will leave the BBC show at the end of the month.
Sara Baalla Screen Time TV Reporter
16:43, 13 Dec 2025
Strictly Come Dancing fans believe they’ve ‘worked out’ Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman’s replacement as a huge BBC star has quit their job.
Tess and Claudia shocked fans in October when they announced that they would be stepping down from the programme at the end of the current series.
The presenters have fronted the hit BBC dancing competition together since 2014, after Claudia replaced Sir Bruce Forsyth, who presented the original series with Tess from 2004.
Since the announcement, speculation has be swirling over who could step into Tess and Claudia’s shoes, and fans are now convinced they’ve rumbled one former star’s return to the show.
It was announced on Saturday (December 13) that former It Takes Two host Zoe Ball was stepping down from her Saturday lunchtime show at BBC Radio 2.
Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman are leaving Strictly Come Dancing(Image: BBC/Kieron McCarron)READ MORE: Strictly’s Nadiya Bychkova sparks concern over BBC future with ‘next step’ messageREAD MORE: BBC Strictly pro in tears over emotional reveal hours before semi-final
Her last programme will air on Saturday, December 20 from 1pm to 3pm, though Zoe will continue to host specials on the station, as she has done throughout the year.
It has since been revealed that Emma Willis will step into Zoe’s role, presenting the show from January 2026, which will feature chats with special guests and listeners, all accompanied by some of the best music in the world.
In a statement, Zoe said: “Spending Saturday lunchtimes with the Radio 2 gang has been an absolute hoot, the listeners, the stories, and of course my weekly giggles with Romesh [Ranganathan] and Rylan [Clark].
“I’m over the moon for the fabulous Emma to take the reins, she’s pure sunshine and is going to bring all the joy (and tunes!) to your Saturdays.”
Zoe Ball has quit her BBC Radio 2 lunchtime show(Image: BBC)
Emma added: “I’m a huge fan of Radio 2, so I’m absolutely chuffed to be joining the family – and it’s a real honour to follow in the huge footsteps Zoe leaves behind, who’s someone I admire and adore.”
Now, several Strictly fans believe that Zoe’s departure from Radio 2 will free up her Saturday nights so that she can host the hit BBC dance show next autumn.
“Interesting. Zoe hasn’t done that show for very long at all. Next autumn is a long way off but… could #Strictly be calling?” one person wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
Another added: “Zoe Ball it is then for next year’s #Strictly. Hoping Rylan will join her,” while a third said: “Congratulations, Emma! Does this mean that Zoe will be Strictly’s new presenter?? Hope so!”
Zoe used to present Strictly spin-off, It Takes Two(Image: BBC)
A fourth fan echoed the sentiment, saying: “I am hoping so much that Zoe is leaving to become one of the new SCD hosts. Pleeeeease,” with another similarly sharing: “Ooo I hope this is because Zoe needs to be free on Saturdays for a certain dancing show.”
In response to the fan theory, a representative for Strictly told Wales Online: “We don’t comment on speculation.”
Zoe has a long affiliation with the hit dance show, as she was notably a contestant in the third series of Strictly back in 2005. She later replaced Claudia as the host of Strictly spin-off, It Takes Two, in 2011, before her departure in 2021.
Other famous faces who are rumoured to take over from Tess and Claudia include Janette Manrara, Fleur East, Hannah Waddingham, Rylan Clark and Oti Mabuse.
Strictly Come Dancing is available to stream on BBC iPlayer
