Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman’s Emotional Pact to Leave Strictly Come Dancing Together
In a move that’s left fans across Britain stunned, Strictly Come Dancing icons Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman have announced their joint decision to step down from the hit BBC show.
After eight glittering years fronting the ballroom spectacular side by side, the beloved presenting duo confirmed they’ll waltz off the dance floor together at the end of the current series.
In a heartfelt joint statement, the pair shared: “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 tea,m 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.”
The announcement sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry, though whispers of their eventual departure had lingered for some time. True to their word, Tess and Claudia always vowed to leave Strictly as a united front — and that promise has now been fulfilled.
Claudia Winkleman has long been open about prioritizing her family over fame. The Saturday night staple once refused to film on a date that clashed with taking her eldest son, Jake, to university.
In a candid recollection shared on BBC Woman’s Hour, Claudia revealed the emotional phone call she made to the Strictly team: “‘I phoned the boss of Strictly quite dramatically and said, through tears, “Sarah, I love you.
I don’t want to leave Strictly and Tess [Daly] and I have agreed we will leave together when they’re done with us, but if the first show is September 13, I’m out and you’ll have to go with somebody else.”
And there was a beat. And she said, “Quite dramatic. We don’t start that week”. I was like, “Alright”. I have to go and put up his posters.’”
The presenter, married to film producer Kris Thykier for over two decades, is mum to Jake, Matilda, and Arthur.
Family, she says, remains at the heart of every decision she makes, even when it means walking away from one of the nation’s most beloved shows.
Their bond goes far beyond the dance floor. Since stepping into Bruce Forsyth’s shoes in 2014, Tess and Claudia have formed one of British television’s most iconic partnerships.
The pair famously made a “pizza pact” years ago, promising to exit Strictly together, no matter what.
“Tess and I will leave at the same time,” Claudia previously told the Mirror. “We’ve made that pact over pizza. We’ll go together, whenever they’re done with us.”
It’s a decision that reflects not just their professional chemistry but also their genuine friendship off-screen.
Despite her polished poise and quick wit, Claudia has admitted she’s not immune to self-doubt.
“Imposter syndrome, I’ve got it in capital letters,” she once confessed. “Even if they phoned me now and said, ‘You’re done’, I’d still think I have had the best career possible.”
Her honesty has only deepened the affection fans feel for her. She’s consistently described herself as grateful, grounded, and realistic, a rare mix in showbiz.
“I think your mental well-being is affected if you compare yourself to others. I am totally happy where I am. I am not at the top, but I am incredibly grateful for what I have.”
While the BBC has yet to confirm who might replace them, it’s clear Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman will leave a glittery void behind.
Their laughter, warmth, and chemistry have defined the show’s golden era, one that’s unlikely to be repeated.
For now, fans can still enjoy their final Strictly series, a bittersweet goodbye to two women who made Saturday nights sparkle.
One thing’s for sure: even when the lights dim and the music stops, Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman will forever be part of Strictly Come Dancing’s beating heart.
