Strictly Come Dancing’s beloved hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman have put to rest rumours about their future on the show. The dynamic duo, who have won over audiences with their weekend appearances on the BBC’s flagship entertainment programme, were reportedly nearing the end of their contracts, sparking concern among show executives that rival broadcasters might tempt them away with attractive offers.
Despite recent scandals involving professional dancers Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima, the production team is optimistic that the upcoming series will captivate viewers. To secure the return of Tess and Claudia, it’s understood that the BBC has offered them a more substantial contract.
A TV insider disclosed to The Sun that after a year marred by allegations of misconduct behind the scenes, the show’s bosses are eager to move forward. “They’re looking to the future after the past 12 months which have been dogged by claims of misbehaviour behind the scenes by pros Giovanni Pernice and Graziano di Prima,” the source explained.
They added: “Now bosses want to draw a line under this troubled chapter in Strictly’s history and focus on the positives – which includes having two women fronting the biggest show on TV, which is something the BBC are very proud of.”
The new contracts underscore the BBC’s dedication to the show, as noted by insiders. The broadcaster has chosen not to comment on the matter, following a request from the Mirror, reports the Mirror.
Claudia Winkleman, who began her stint as presenter in 2014, has previously expressed her fierce attachment to the programme, stating: “They’d still have to prise my cold, dead hands off that shiny Glitterball.”
In a recent episode of Kathy Burke’s podcast When There’s A Will There’s A Wake, Winkleman, who also hosts The Traitors, shared an amusing anecdote from the iconic Blackpool week on Strictly. Chatting with Burke, she recounted: “We were doing Strictly in Blackpool and for some reason in the audience was Peter Kay, Rick Astley had been performing.”
“I want to say Dean Gaffney… Maybe that’s just my fantasy. And we ended up getting drunk in the bar at the hotel we always stay at called The Big Blue. I ended up doing the conga through the kitchen using a pizza slice as, almost, a steering aid… But I was using it to steer the conga…” “You can never be grumpy if you have either taken part or during a conga that will mark the end of the wake! ” The podcast delves into life and death questions with its guests, asking them about their preferred way to die, who should inherit their treasured belongings, and other profound inquiries.