Head judge Shirley Ballas has publicly endorsed two television personalities as her preferred successors to the departing presenting duo of Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman on BBC One's Strictly Come Dancing.
End of an Era for Strictly Presenters
It was confirmed earlier in 2024 that the show's long-serving hosts, Tess Daly, 56, and Claudia Winkleman, 53, will leave the dancing competition after the current series concludes. Their final episode will be the series finale, airing on Saturday night. The pair have co-hosted the main show together since 2014, with Claudia originally joining the franchise on the spin-off It Takes Two before taking over from Sir Bruce Forsyth on the main stage.
During last weekend's results show, the judging panel surprised Tess and Claudia with an emotional tribute, leaving both presenters fighting back tears. A video montage of their best moments was played, featuring comments from judges Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, and Anton Du Beke.
Ballas's Choice for the Future
With speculation rife about who will take over the coveted roles, names like Bradley Walsh, Holly Willoughby, Alison Hammond, and Zoe Ball have been circulated. However, Shirley Ballas, 65, has thrown her support behind a different pairing. Speaking to The Independent, the head judge named Rylan Clark and Rob Rinder as her ideal candidates.
"I think Rylan [Clark] could be a good candidate... Judge Rinder would be wicked in the Clauditorium," Ballas stated. She also acknowledged fellow judge Anton Du Beke's hosting aspirations but emphasised her own role, saying, "My lane is dancing."
Ballas praised the outgoing hosts, saying, "They’re so polite and so kind to every single person they meet... I think everyone’s going to be sad."
The Case for Rylan and Rob
Rylan Clark, 37, and Rob Rinder, 47, are no strangers to working together. They launched their own BBC travel docu-series, Rob and Rylan's Grand Tour, in 2024. The popular show, which explores art and culture, began in Italy and has since filmed a second series in India. A third series in Greece has already been commissioned by the BBC.
Rylan has prior Strictly experience, having hosted the companion show It Takes Two from 2019 until 2023, a role he described as his "dream job." Rob Rinder is also familiar with the Strictly ballroom, having competed in the 2016 series with professional dancer Oksana Platero, where he reached the quarter-finals.
The search for the new hosts marks a significant moment for the BBC entertainment staple, as it prepares to bid a fond farewell to a presenting partnership that has become synonymous with the show's glittering success for over a decade.
