Daly and Winkleman to Leave Strictly

On 23 October Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman announced in a joint Instagram video that they will leave Strictly Come Dancing at the end of this series, saying it felt like the right time to “pass on the sparkly baton”; Daly has been on the show for 21 years and the pair have presented together for 11 years. The BBC issued an official statement praising them as integral to the programme, saying it will miss the duo and that the show will continue while replacement names are being discussed but not yet confirmed. The presenters have given an explanation that aligns with Daly’s recent comments about wanting more family time and new projects, and coverage noted signs she had been preparing to step back. Colleagues and professional dancers, including Oti Mabuse, paid emotional tribute. Fans, commentators and some insiders reacted with shock and speculation, and analysts — from a body‑language expert to a PR strategist and former pro James Jordan — pointed to guarded cues and the coordinated timing as suggesting there may be more to the story.