‘Keep dancing!’ Claudia and Tess sign off for the last time on Strictly
Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman embraced on the dancefloor as they signed off as Strictly Come Dancing hosts, more than a decade after they began presenting the show together.
“Thank you again for watching us over the years; it has meant the world to us,” Winkleman told viewers at the end of Strictly’s Christmas Day special. “There’s just one thing left to do. Come on, Tess.”
Daly then grabbed her presenting partner and began to slowly dance, looking into her eyes and declaring, “For our very final time, Claud.”
“Let’s make it count,” added Winkleman, before the duo led the room in one last call of the show’s catchphrase: “Keep dancing!”
Many see Daly and Winkleman as the faces of Strictly.
Daly has presented the show since it started 21 years ago, initially alongside Sir Bruce Forsyth. Winkleman began co-hosting the results show with her in 2010, before permanently replacing Sir Bruce in 2014.
Prior to that, Winkleman had hosted Strictly’s sister show It Takes Two since 2004.
The pair became prime-time Saturday night TV’s first female presenting duo.
Much attention has turned to who may replace them, with Zoe Ball, Rylan Clark, Janette Manrara, Alan Carr and Holly Willoughby among the names that have been suggested.
What transpired on Tess and Claudia’s most recent episode?
Warning: This article contains spoilers about Strictly Come Dancing’s Christmas special
Early on in the Christmas special, Anton Du Beke briefly interrupted Daly to say he and his fellow judges had decided to have “a whip round” to get her an Argentinian Tango – the host’s favourite dance – as a parting gift.
She was then swept off her feet and spun around by Strictly pro dancer Aljaž Škorjanec.
“Best present ever,” said a breathless Daly afterwards. She was then generously awarded 12 out of 10 by Du Beke.
The presenter later gave Craig Revel Horwood, considered the grumpiest of all the judges, a “little cuddle.”.
“I’ve always wanted to do this,” beamed Daly, 56, while wrapping her arms around the pantomime villain.
Strictly’s long-serving musical director and arranger Dave Arch then paid a silent tribute to Winkleman, conveying his message with cue cards in the style of the 2003 Christmas film Love Actually.
“To me you are perfect,” he declared in writing, before joking: “Even though you are orange.”
More hugs followed.
Who won the Strictly Christmas special?
The Christmas special saw six couples compete on the dance floor under the glitterball.
The celebrity contestants included comedian Babatunde Aléshé, All Saints star Mel Blatt, Westlife singer Brian McFadden, ex-rugby player Jodie Ounsley – aka Fury from the TV show Gladiators – and EastEnders actor Nicholas Bailey.
But it was former Gogglebox star Scarlett Moffatt and dance pro Vito Coppola who cha-cha-cha’d their way to victory with a full house of 10s from the judges.
“This is honestly the greatest gift that ever could’ve happened at Christmas,” a shocked Moffatt said.
‘An absolute dream’
In a joint Instagram statement in October, Winkleman and Daly said hosting the show had been “an absolute dream.”
In 2024, Strictly’s 20th anniversary, the pair picked up the entertainment program Gong at the Bafta TV Awards.
Earlier this year, Winkleman – who also presents The Traitors – and Daly were made Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) by King Charles III at investiture ceremonies at Windsor Castle, for services to broadcasting.
Last Saturday, it was an emotional night in the ballroom, as together they hosted the main Strictly final for the last time – with the Queen among those paying tribute to the long-running hosts.
In a message read out by judge Craig Revel Horwood, Queen Camilla said their “warmth, compassion and sheer happiness” had been at the heart of the show’s success, adding, “I think I speak for everyone when I say you have been utterly fab-u-lous.”
Who sent Tess and Claudia a special send-off message?
After a rocky few years for the show, some have also been wondering what comes next for the competition.
But entertainment journalist Emma Bullimore says many people will still want the hosting job.
She assured BBC News that the hosting role remains a significant role on British TV. Strictly brings families together more than most shows.
Strictly controversies
Media circles viewed the current Strictly series, which started in September, as a potential revival of the long-running hit BBC show.
It follows last year’s controversies relating to the behaviour of some professional dancers and, in August, the launch of a BBC investigation into alleged drug use by two of the show’s stars and an unnamed star being arrested on suspicion of rape (it is understood the development was not related to the current series).
BBC bosses were keen for fans and the media to return to talking about the show itself.
However, the scandals continue to persist. In October, a second unnamed star from the show was arrested on suspicion of rape. Reports from November also suggest that the current series has no connection to that development.
Bullimore says it’s “difficult to know” whether the various scandals played into Daly and Winkleman’s decision to leave.
But she also said, despite the controversies, hosting would remain “very attractive” to any presenter.
The BBC has stated that they will reveal plans for the show’s 2026 format in due course.
