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Strictly Come Dancing stars Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman broke their silence on exit minutes into the series' latest episode. The popular presenters announced on Thursday (October 23) that they are set to leave the BBC's Saturday night favourite at the end of its current 23rd series. It’s since been confirmed by the BBC that their final ever Strictly episode will be the Christmas special which airs as tradition on December 25. Just days before this, Tess and Claudia will make their final live appearance on the programme when the current season’s finale airs on Saturday, December 20. Confirming their exit, they said: "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." Tess began presenting Strictly alongside the late Sir Bruce Forsyth 21 years ago when its first episode aired in 2004. Claudia joined as a main presenter in 2014, having previously presented spin-off series It Takes Two and the Sunday night results show. With fans trying to work out who will replace them , Tess and Claudia were back in the ballroom on Saturday night (October 25) for icons week. At the beginning of the episode, the pair received a huge response from the live audience, with Tess struggling to be heard over the applause. Tess said: "Just before we get started, Claudia and I announced this this week that this will be our final series of Strictly Come Dancing Claudia added: “We want to thank you for your beautiful messages, we've got another eight weeks on this incredible show and a Strictly champion to crown." Concluding the opening, Tess stated: "We cannot wait to spend the rest of the series with you, with our amazing couples and of course with these four. Please welcome the judges." With week five of Strictly marking icons week, both the contestants and judges took on the personas of a host of famous faces, including Craig Revel Horwood transforming into Beatles legend John Lennon.
