Following rumours that Claudia Winkleman may quit Strictly, a source tells new co-host Tess Daly is “panicked” about going it alone
Shelley Spadoni
Strictly Come Dancing ’s dynamic duo Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly are one of the best-loved pairings on TV. But rumours have been circulating that Claudia could be leaving the BBC dance show following her runaway success on The Traitors.
It’s hard to imagine Strictly without her – and her agent has told new Claudia “isn’t going anywhere”as far as the dance show is concerned – but the nail-biting second season of adventure competition The Traitorsproved such a huge hit that some believe Claudia could be considering offers elsewhere.
So where would that leave Tess?
A source has told new the thought of going it alone without her mischievous partner-in-crime could be scary for Stockport-born Tess, 54. The pair have fronted Strictly together for 10 years now.
“Despite being on Strictly for so long, Tess might feel nervous about going solo. They have different skills and that’s why they work well together,” the source told new. They added, “Tess is comfortable when she has someone to bounce off. She had that with Bruce Forsyth and then with Claudia, but if Claudia leaves, she’s going to be on her own.
“She and Claudia have got their in-jokes and work well as a double act, so people will be wondering whether you can have one without the other.”
Quick-witted and quirky, Claudia delivers the hilarious one-liners that have the Strictly judges, contestants and viewers in stitches. Tess, her glamorous counterpart, is the calm, reassuring hand in their winning partnership.
Previously, Claudia, 52, presented Strictly: It Takes Two, until 2011, when Zoe Ball took over. She joined the main show in 2014, the year after legendary host Sir Bruce Forsyth left.
As for where Claudia could go next – the sky’s the limit, our source said.
“She’s done The Traitors, The Piano on Channel 4, and she’s shown she can hold the fort by herself. On Strictly she has a great rapport, not just with the dancers but with the audience.”
There are always rumours about people leaving Strictly, which Tess is used to – but the recent rumours about Claudia quitting have “really panicked her”, a second source told us.
They added, “She knows Claudia isn’t a stranger to leaving shows when she feels the time is right, and Tess is worried all this extra attention and the offers may sway her to give it u
