Strictly Come Dancing hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman have quit the series – announcing their departure in an emotional video to fans.
The duo, who have been presenting the BBC One dancing competition together since 2014, took to Instagram to break the news to fans on Thursday.
Claudia, 53, who also hosts BBC series The Traitors and spin-off Celebrity Traitors, and Tess, 56, who first joined the series back in 2004, sat side by side in the clip that confirmed their departure.
Speaking to the camera, Claudia began: ‘There have been some rumblings and we want you to hear this from us.’
Tess chimed in: ‘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.’
‘The very sparkly baton!’ Claudia laughed, before turning to her co-star and pal to add: ‘You’ve been here since the beginning.’
Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly have QUIT Strictly Come Dancing
The pair have been presenting the main show together since 2014, with Tess first joining the line-up during the show’s launch in 2004
Tess replied, pointing to Claudia: ‘With Bruce, lovely Bruce [Forsyth], and that was over two decades ago but a lot of the time has been with you.
‘It’s been a huge part of our lives since our children were literally babes in arms, and now they’re adults, and I think genuinely we have cherished every second.’
Claudia continued: ‘We have, 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.’
The duo penned under the video: ‘We have loved working as a duo and hosting Strictly has been an absolute dream.
‘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.’
In her own statement, Tess added: ‘After 21 unforgettable years, the time has come to say goodbye to Strictly Come Dancing.
Claudia and Tess took to Instagram to break the news with a heartfelt video
The presenting pair penned an emotional message to their fans under the clip
Tess previously presented the BBC One show alongside Bruce Forsyth before Claudia joined her as a permanent co-host in 2014
‘It’s hard to put it into words what this show has meant to me, so here goes…
‘Strictly has been more than just a television programme, it’s felt like having a third child, a second family, and a huge part of my life since that first show back in 2004.
‘I knew then it was something special, but I could never have imagined the magic it would bring.
‘Strictly has always been about joy, celebration, and bringing people together, and I’m so proud to have played a small part in something that continues to mean so much to so many.
‘I have always been in awe of our superbly talented professional dancers, our magnificent judges, and all the celebrities who have taken part.
‘I absolutely adore our brilliant crew, every single member of the Strictly team who have worked so tirelessly to make this show what it is.
‘Thank you for the laughter, the friendship, the countless memories over all these years. You’ve filled my heart in ways I’ll never forget. I’ll miss you all so much.
‘And to you, the viewers at home, the biggest thank you of all, thank you for welcoming us into your homes for over two decades.
Claudia and Tess were seen sitting side by side in the clip that confirmed their departure, as they thanked the show’s crew and its viewers as home
The duo explained to fans of the BBC One series they ‘were always going to leave together and now feels like the right time’ to ‘pass the baton’
‘To my beloved Claud, what an absolute joy and pleasure it has been sharing this adventure with you. You’re one of a kind, and I’ll treasure every giggle, every live show, and every backstage moment we’ve shared.
‘This isn’t a goodbye to glitter, sequins or Saturday night sparkle (I could never say goodbye to those!). Strictly will forever hold a special place in my heart, but it does feel like the right time to hand over the reins.’
Claudia went on to post a series of behind-the-scenes snaps of her and Tess working together on the show as she too paid tribute to her time on the series.
She penned: ‘It’s very difficult to put into words exactly what Strictly has meant to me. It’s been the greatest relationship of my career.
‘From working on It Takes Two in 2004 until now it has been my everything, the show I will be eternally grateful for.
‘I will never forget Len Goodman trying to teach me what a cucaracha is (I still don’t know) and the complete thrill and honour it was to work with Tess on the results show to cohosting on Saturday nights.
‘Strictly is a magical, glittery, fake tanned train and it’s been a privilege to be a tiny part of it.
‘The extraordinary talent of the dancers, the band, the hair and makeup and costume teams, the unbelievable production crew and creatives – all utterly amazing.
Claudia shared a series of behind-the-scenes snaps of her and co-star Tess as she penned an emotional message about waving goodbye to the series
Claudia heaped praise on pal Tess telling her she was ‘so lucky’ to have ‘stood next to her’ while presenting the series together for over a decade
‘I’ve always believed it’s best to leave a party before you’re fully ready to go and I know the new hosts will be magnificent, I look forward to watching them take Strictly to new heights.
‘As for Tess – I’m so so lucky I got to stand next to you. You’re funny, kind, whip smart and a true friend and I love you.’
Earlier this year it was alleged that BBC bosses had been scrambling to keep Claudia after fears arose that she would quit the series.
Sources told Closer magazine that bosses had been left ‘anxious’ about the programme’s future, adding: ‘Bosses are anxious that the lack of big-name celebrities could dampen ratings and, behind the scenes, they’ve been leaning on Claudia to help steady the ship.
‘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.’
The source added that while Claudia ‘adores’ working on Strictly, she feels ‘stretched’ and ‘wonders if something has to give’ in her career.
While Tess appeared to ‘give away’ that she was planning to leave Strictly weeks ago, as she made a passing comment during a podcast appearance.
It was rumoured that BBC bosses had been worried Claudia was going to quit the series
Claudia may have inadvertently let slip she was leaving the show as she discussed parenting on a podcast
Taking to the Happy Mum, Happy Baby podcast, she opened up on parenting daughters Phoebe, 20, and Amber, 16.
The TV presenter admitted that while she would miss them when they inevitably move out the family home, she would also enjoy the freedom.
Tess also revealed that while she’d missed out on weekends away with her friends due to parenting commitments, Strictly had also got in the way due to the work schedule making her ‘absent’.
‘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?’ Tess aid.
‘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.
‘I’m always trying to make up for that. So if I, you know, remove them from that picture. 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.’
Claudia and Tess will continue to host the current series of Strictly Come Dancing, which returns for its fifth week on Saturday night titled ‘Icons Week’.
Tess and Claudia first started co-hosting the series together in 2014, after Tess’s former co-host Bruce Forsyth left the series
Claudia and Tess will continue to host the current series of Strictly Come Dancing, which returns for its fifth week on Saturday night titled ‘Icons Week’
It comes after fans of the BBC One series called for Chris Robshaw to return after Stefan Dennis was forced to pull out because of an injury.
The former England rugby captain, 39, had been booted off the show less than 24 hours earlier after he found himself in the dance off with EastEnders actress Balvinder Sopal.
Following the tense dance-off, judges Shirley Ballas and Anton Du Beke voted to save the muscular sportsman after he performed a salsa to María by Ricky Martin, but Motsi Mabuse and Craig Revel Horwood opted for Sopal.
As Revel-Horwood was the head judge on Sunday, it was his vote that was decisive and Robshaw bid an emotional goodbye to his professional partner Nadiya Bychkova.
But in the wake of Stefan Dennis’s calf injury forcing him out of the competition, fans of the rugby star hoped that BBC bosses would bring him back to compete.
Now the bosses have given their verdict on the future of the BBC dance competition and Robshaw’s future on the show.
A BBC source told the Daily Mail: ‘The judges have had the final say on Chris’s future in the competition and we would not seek to overturn that. So he will not be returning to compete on Strictly Come Dancing.’
‘Following Stefan Dennis’ sad departure from Strictly, we will run the competition as usual. But instead of the usual four-person final, there will instead be only three finalists.’
Strictly Come Dancing continues Saturday at 6:25pm and is followed by Sundays results show at 7:15pm on BBC One and iPlayer.