Future of Strictly hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman revealed after show hit by string of scandals
STRICTLY hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman are poised to sign new contracts to front the show for the next two years.
Their current deals had ended and execs were keen to get them back on board in case rival broadcasters tried to pounce.
Tess, 55, and Claudia, 52, have co-hosted the BBC dance show for over a decade.
A TV insider said: “This isn’t just a sign of the faith that the BBC has in the presenting duo, it also signals the commitment the corporation has to the show itself.
“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.
“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.”
It is understood Tess and Claudia have been offered “enhanced” deals but both had already pledged loyalty to the show.
In 2014, Claudia took over as co-presenter of the main show with Tess, having previously fronted spin-off show Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two from 2004 to 2010.
The host, who also fronts current BBC One hit The Traitors, insisted she was grateful for the job and would do it for as long as bosses wanted her to.
When previously asked about the idea of leaving, Claudia joked: “They’d still have to prise my cold, dead hands off that shiny Glitterball.”
The BBC declined to comment.