Producers of Strictly Come Dancing have been left deeply disappointed after a leading candidate to replace the departing Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman was forced to withdraw from the selection process.
The Frontrunner Steps Aside
According to reports, comedian and presenter Alan Carr was a firm favourite with BBC executives to take on one of the two coveted main presenting roles. However, he has now pulled out of the running due to a scheduling clash with his extensive 2027 tour, which cannot be rearranged.
A source close to the situation revealed the BBC's reaction, stating: "Alan is out of the Golden Ten possible hosts and won’t be taking part in the tests — the BBC are gutted. He was their favourite to take on one of the positions but he’s spoken with the BBC and basically he cannot move his tour."
A New Favourite Emerges
With Carr out of contention, attention has shifted to other potential hosts. The same source indicated that Rylan Clark has now replaced Carr as one of the top choices for the job. The final decision is said to hinge on upcoming 'chemistry tests' being conducted by the show's bosses.
Other names speculated to be in the frame include Bradley Walsh from The Chase, Alex Jones of The One Show, and It Takes Two presenter Fleur East.
The End of an Era
The search for new hosts was triggered in October 2025 when the iconic duo of Winkleman and Daly announced their decision to step down after a combined 21 years on the show. They made their final regular appearance crowning Karen Carney and Carlos Gu as champions, before a last on-screen outing during the Christmas special, which was won by Scarlett Moffatt and Vito Coppola.
In their emotional departure video, Claudia remarked on their long tenure, saying: "You've been here since the beginning... 2004 with Brucey." Tess Daly, who originally hosted with the late Bruce Forsyth, added: "It's been a huge part of our lives... we have cherished every second."
The BBC has been approached for comment on the hosting search.
