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A Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer has shared that she and her colleagues were left "stunned" by the news of Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman's departure from the show. Tess and Claudia will be leaving the BBC programme at the conclusion of the current series, with Tess having been a staple of the reality show since its inception in 2004. Claudia joined the show in 2010 and took over presenting duties for the main edition after the legendary Sir Bruce Forsyth stepped down in 2014. Read more: Claudia says her and Tess's Strictly replacements 'locked in' Nadiya Bychkova, a professional dancer who was recently partnered with ex-rugby star Chris Robshaw before their elimination last weekend, revealed to Wales Online that the pros were "all shocked" by the Strictly revelation. Speaking to Richard Eden of the Daily Mail, she said: "We all were shocked. There are always rumours swirling around Strictly, but this is big news.", reports the Mirror . "They've become such an iconic duo, and I have so much respect for both of them. I'll really miss their energy and kindness." Referring to the area of the studio where contestants are interviewed, Nadiya added: 'I've had so many laughs with Claudia up in the Clauditorium, too. "On Thursday (October 23), Tess, 56, and Claudia, 53, issued a joint statement announcing their departure from Strictly. It had always been assumed that when one left the show, the other would follow suit. The statement read: "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. They're the most brilliant team and we'll miss them every day. ""We will cry when we say the last 'keep dancing' but we will continue to say it to each other. Just possibly in tracksuit bottoms at home while holding some pizza. "Supportive messages flooded in for the presenting pair, with former contestants Helen Skelton, Zoe Ball and Ann Widdecombe offering their backing, alongside judge Motsi Mabuse.This follows Claudia's revelation that she and Tess hatched a plan to exit Strictly whilst still performing at their best.She admitted they concocted the arrangement several years ago. The host rejected suggestions that audiences wanted her to stay forever, saying: "I don't think anybody would want that. ""I am sure people watching would go 'Can that small orange creature just shuffle off?' Tess and I will leave at the same time. We made that pact over pizza. I had pepperoni." Since joining Strictly, Claudia's career has reached even greater heights as presenter of hit show The Traitors , which earned her a first BAFTA in 2023. Catch Tess and Claudia in their first show since making their announcement tonight (Saturday, October 26) at 6.25pm on BBC One.
