Copyright manchestereveningnews
Strictly Come Dancing fans have said they 'will not be ready' for the exact same moment as Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman confirm their place to leave the show. The presenters are currently in the midst of co-hosting the 2025 run of the BBC One dance contest, with week five of the competition set to take place this Saturday (October 25). But Tess and Claudia left their co-stars and fans in shock this week when they announced on Thursday (October 23) that they will be leaving the BBC One dance show as hosts at the end of the current series. The presenters, who have co-hosted the show together since 2014, announce d on Thursday (October 23) that they will leave the BBC One dance show at the end of the current series. In a joint statement shared on Instagram, they said: "We have loved working as a duo and hosting Strictly has been an absolute dream," they said. "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 and Claudia's exits mark the end of an era for Strictly, and BBC chiefs say that the pair have been "integral" to the success of the Latin and Ballroom competition over the past two decades. Kate Phillips, Chief Content Officer for the BBC, said: "I can’t quite believe I’m saying this, but it’s the end of an era with Tess and Claudia’s decision to bid farewell to the Strictly ballroom. They’ve both been such incredible hosts at the very heart of the show, their passion and dedication has gone above and beyond. "They’ve been integral to Strictly’s success over the last 20 years, but I understand why they’ve decided it’s time to hang up the glitter ball and get their weekends back. As Craig (Revel Horwood) would say they are fab-u-lous presenters, and they are fab-u-lous friends to me and so many others at the BBC. Thank you Tess and Claud for everything, we will miss you hugely." Strictly's executive producer Sarah James added: "Tess and Claudia are quite simply the best duo of presenters in the business and we are so lucky to have had them as our Strictly anchors for so many years. "They have championed countless celebrities on the dancefloor, led us all through two series during the pandemic, but more importantly, they have a deep and genuine bond with the show and every single member of the team. The Strictly Family is often referred to and these women are the matriarchs of that family. "We have been together and supported each other for a long time - through pregnancies, births and deaths and to say we will all miss them terribly is an understatement. Tess, Claudia, THANK YOU for everything, it’s not over yet – let’s enjoy the rest of this fabulous series together. I would say Keep Dancing, but you never actually started!" The corporation also stated shortly after their exit news that plans for the 2026 series of Strictly Come Dancing "will be confirmed in due course". And following the news, fans were quickly left saying the same thing. @michellesdowden said: "I will NOT be ready for when Tess and Claud say their final, keep dancing #strictly." @jessiehxsking commented: "They are what Strictly Come Dancing is all about, what do you mean in a few weeks time we’re going to hear them saying “keep dancing” for the last time?? #Strictly." @FionaGrimhilde wrote: "I will absolutely ball at Tess and Claudia's last ever 'keeeep dancing'." @tvreality93 added: "Well the final is certainly gonna be an emotional one # strictly ."
