Strictly Come Dancing is set for a major overhaul. Early Tuesday, the BBC confirmed that Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman will step down from their presenting duties.
Several professional dancers, including Karen Hauer, Nadiya Bychkova, Luba Mushtuk, and Michelle Tsiakkas, will not return to the show. However, Katya Jones is reportedly staying in the line-up.
The official cast for Strictly Come Dancing 2026 has not yet been announced. Typically, the show returns in mid to late September.
As of midday, It Takes Two has not been officially confirmed as cancelled. Yet, it is set to transition into a vodcast format.
Craig Revel Horwood, Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke, and Motsi Mabuse are likely to return as judges. This continuity may help maintain the show’s core audience.
Karen Carney and Carlos Gu won Strictly Come Dancing in 2025. “I cannot believe it. I just wanna say thank you to everyone that’s supported our journey,” Carney stated after their victory.
The BBC plans to confirm details about Strictly Come Dancing 2026 in due course. A spokesperson emphasized the importance of this transition: “Strictly is the crown jewel of the BBC. With Claudia and Tess now gone, it needs to be handled with the utmost care.”
Auditions for new hosts are ongoing. A shortlist of nine possible presenters has emerged. Officials have not yet finalized who will take over hosting duties.
This significant change comes amid a broader creative renewal for the series. “There is definitely a creative renewal on the table for It Takes Two,” an insider remarked.
What exactly this means for fans remains uncertain. The final list of new hosts for Strictly Come Dancing is still pending announcement.
