Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly on Strictly Come Dancing
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5 not-so-subtle signs Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman were planning to quit Strictly Come Dancing

Perhaps today's statement shouldn't have come as such a shock after all…

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Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman announced earlier today that they will leave Strictly Come Dancing when the current series comes to an end.

In a joint statement, the ladies said that the time had come for them to hang up the sequins and exit the show.

And, while it initially came as a shock, the signs were all there…

Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman on Strictly
Have the signs they were thinking of leaving been there for a while? (Credit: BBC)

Tess Daly admitted she wanted her weekends back

Strictly dominates Tess and Claudia’s autumn/winter weekends, with rehearsals on a Friday and the live show on Saturday. The results show is filmed directly after the live show, which means a very late night for all those involved.

So it’s surely only natural that, at some point, Tess would want her weekends back…

Speaking on the Happy Mum Happy Baby podcast earlier this month, she implied that she would like to be free to do other things besides be a mum and present Strictly at the weekend.

She told host Giovanna Fletcher: “I’m not someone who goes for a day to the spa. I’m thinking, what do my kids need me to do today? Do you know what I mean?   So I’m always making up for that.  If I’ve worked for a day or two, then I’m like, now this time I need to do more for them because I was absent here. So I’m always trying to make up for that. So if I, you know, remove them from that picture…”

She then added: “Yeah, I don’t know. I mean, it could be quite lovely. Could be really great. I could be on weekend breaks with my girlfriends to Ibiza. How about that? I might be back dancing on podiums.”

Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman on Strictly
The ladies both have families and have spoken about the work/life juggle (Credit: Splash News)

Family first for Claudia

Claudia Winkleman has spoken frequently in the past about wanting to prioritise her family over her work commitments.

In December 2023, Claudia revealed she was stepping down from her BBC Radio 2 show. Giving fans a reason for her shock departure at the time, Claudia said in a statement that it was time for her family to come first. So is this also the reason she’s making her Strictly exit?

Claudia shares son Jake, 19, daughter Matilda, 16, and son Arthur, 11, with husband Kris Thykier.

She said at the time: “The truth is my children are growing up inordinately fast so I have decided to follow them around at home before they leave for good.”

On Women’s Hour back in 2021, Claudia also revealed that she’d threatened to quit Strictly when she thought the launch show clashed with her pans to see son Jake off to uni.

Scandals and fears the ladies would walk

It’s been a tough couple of years for the BBC dance show. And, as hosts, Tess and Claudia are the public face of the show. So it can’t have been easy for either of them as the show made headlines for all the wrong reasons.

There were bullying and misconduct allegations against both Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima, and Wynne Evans’ wandering hands controversy saw backlash like never before levelled at the show.

In September, a source alleged that bosses were anxious Claudia could leave. “She’s the face the public trusts. She’s hugely popular, and they know she’s the safest pair of hands they’ve got. But the truth is, she’s under enormous pressure and fears are growing that it could all lead to her quitting the show,” said a source.

Tess, too, was reportedly “horrified” after a drug scandal hit the show earlier this year. A source alleged: “She’s worked hard to build a reputation as one of the most professional and polished figures on British television, and this is not the kind of headline she ever wanted to be connected to. Being dragged into this mess – even by association – is deeply embarrassing for her.

“Tess is fiercely private and holds herself to high standards. This has shaken her confidence in the brand, and it feels like it’s just scandal after scandal with Strictly at the moment.”

Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman on the red carpet of the BAFTAs
Claudia had previously revealed that when the time came, they would both go together (Credit: Splash News)

Claudia has never been more in demand than she is now when it comes to her career. Channel 4 fans love her on The Piano. BBC viewers love her on The Traitors. And, recently, it was reported that ITV wants in on the Claudia show.

According to The Sun, back in 2024, Claudia was thought to be exploring her options with the broadcaster.

One insider claimed: “ITV very much sees Claudia as the presenter of the moment. She’s smart, fun, witty, hard-working and is so sharp she’s considered a safe pair of hands when it comes to live TV. That means she could pretty much tackle any project bosses could throw at her, and it might offer her the next step up in her stellar career.”

Exit pact

Claudia has previously announced that, when one of them decided their time on the show was up, the other would leave at exactly the same time. And that’s exactly what happened today.

Claudia previously old The Mirror: “Tess and I will leave at the same time. We’ve made that pact over pizza. We’ll go together, whenever they’re done with us.”

In their statements, Tess and Claudia revealed that they will leave Strictly when the current series ends. The BBC has also confirmed that they will host this year’s Christmas Special. This means that the last time they will be seen on screen presenting the show will be Christmas Day.

Read more: Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman’s next career move ‘revealed’ as they share Strictly exit statement

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Nancy Brown
Editor