Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly have announced they are leaving Strictly Come Dancing, meaning there’s a new presenting position up for grabs.
After fronting the glitzy dance show and its spin-off series for a total of 21 years, Daly and Winkleman confirmed in a heartfelt video that the current season will be their last.
“We have news after 21 wonderfully joyful years on Strictly, we have decided that the time is right to step aside and pass over the baton,” they said.
“It’s been a huge part of our lives, hasn’t it? Since our children were literally babies in arms, and now they’re young adults, and I think genuinely, we have cherished every second,” the clip continued.
“We’re so lucky to have been part of this amazing show, and we just want to thank the Strictly team, because Strictly is the people who make it. So thank you,” Winkleman added.
News of their departure follows a turbulent period for the BBC series, amid reports of casting controversies and presenter pay.
While there will likely be a lot of questions surrounding this latest Strictly shake-up, one of the biggest questions will be who will step in to fill those dancing shoes?
Turns out it’s a mixed bag regarding the latest odds, with different betting agents taking differing stances on who might be the top contender.
From Holly Willoughby to Fleur East, here is a list of all the celebs that the bookies have their eyes on.
Stacey Dooley and Kevin Clifton
Celebrity couple and Strictly Come Dancing winners, Stacey Dooley and Kevin Clifton, are already being touted as strong contenders for the show.
With a combined background of professional dancing and television presenting, many fans are feeling confident that BBC bosses could be approaching them soon.
A representative for Megaways Slots provider Spin Genie said they’re priced at 2/1 odds, adding, “Since their memorable win in 2018, the pair have remained closely connected to the show, and with their weekly rundowns of this year’s series on their Substack, they strike the perfect balance between being qualified, passionate and in tune with the Strictly audience.”
But while Megaway Slots thinks the couple are in the running, they’re not placed as highly elsewhere. Whataretheodds.co.uk instead puts them at 6/1, showing just how uncertain things are at the moment.
Janette Manrara
Another Strictly professional favourite, Janette Manrara’s name is also being thrown about as a potential presenter.
According to What Are The Odds, she is the favourite with her odds also being placed at 2/1 alongside Fleur East.
The company’s Celebrity Expert Dave James said: “Janette Manrara is the clear fan favourite and of course an expert on all things Strictly. The It Takes Two presenter and former Strictly professional knows the show inside out and would bring warmth and familiarity to the role. She is rightly at the top of the market.”
Given that Janette is married to Strictly’s Aljaž Škorjanec, it sounds like a perfect pairing for the presenting duo.
Fleur East
Several bookmakers are also naming Fleur East among their favourites, including Ladbrokes, that have put her at 2/1.
After narrowly missing out on winning the show during her own season, the singer-songwriter also fronted It Takes Two with Janette Manrara and has firmly emerged as a fan favourite in the Strictly family.
Alex Apati of Ladbrokes said: "The early signs suggest a promotion could be on the cards for Fleur East... she's no stranger to the Strictly family and could well be a shoo-in for a main presenting role next series, along with Roman Kemp."
Roman Kemp
According to Ladbrokes, Roman Kemp could also land the top presenting gig with his odds being placed at 6/4 by Ladbrokes and 3/1 by Casino Beats.
Roman actually hasn’t competed on Strictly, and has in fact reportedly turned down a chance to appear on the show.
The podcast host and TV personality is no stranger to the spotlight, and currently presents The One Show on BBC One.
Rylan Clark
TV presenting heavyweight Rylan Clark’s odds of landing the role are around 3/1, according to Ladbrokes.
Rylan presented It Takes Two from 2019 to 2023, stepping away to pursue other opportunities.
Responding to news of Claudia’s departure, Clark commented on social media: "Shoes as big as the fringe to fill."
Fans of the BBC Radio 2 presenter were quick to jump in, adding that he’d be great at fronting the dance show.
Zoe Ball
There are mixed odds across the bookies regarding Zoe Ball, but Coral thinks she’s the most likely contender and has put her odds at 2/1.
As a former Strictly contender, Zoe also fronted It Takes Two until 2021.
“Zoe Ball is no stranger to the Strictly family, and we make the former It Takes Two host the favourite to replace Tess Daly next year,” said Coral’s John Hill.
“Janette Manara and Fleur East are also at the top end of the betting, while we have seen some early support for Rylan Clark,” added Hill.
Holly Willoughby
The bookies have also named TV presenting icon Holly Willoughby, although her odds aren’t as high at the moment.
According to What Are The Odds, she currently has a 7.7% chance of securing the role and 12/1 odds.
After stepping away from This Morning, Holly has been less prominent in the showbiz world and appears to be focusing on other personal projects as well as her family. But it remains to be seen whether Strictly could lure her back into regular presenting.
Other names that have been suggested include Vicky Pattison, Allison Hammond and Maura Higgins, but at this point, it’s anyone’s guess who will land the top spot.
