According to multiple reports, Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman confirmed in October that they would leave their presenting roles on Strictly Come Dancing. The BBC has since been searching for replacements, with several celebrities linked to the position. Alison Hammond told the Daily Mail that she was approached but declined due to a busy schedule.
She explained that her packed schedule made it unlikely she could take on the role. Zoe Ball, who previously fronted the spin-off It Takes Two, reportedly confirmed she did not get the job. According to the Daily Mirror, Ball said she experienced a period of disappointment after learning she was not selected.
A source told the Mirror that Emma Willis has been offered the hosting role and is expected to accept. The source described Willis as having excelled in chemistry tests and being highly regarded by the BBC. The insider noted that Willis is seen as the counterpart to Tess Daly due to her live broadcasting experience.
Other celebrities linked to the role include Amanda Holden, Alan Carr, Rylan Clark, Rob Rinder, and Bradley Walsh. Holden and Carr reportedly declined to pursue the position to focus on other projects. In a separate development, five professional dancers were dropped from the show, including Karen Hauer, Nadiya Bychkova, and Gorka Marquez.
Sources said bosses considered the dancers' TikTok follower counts when deciding who to axe. Nadiya Bychkova has 19,000 TikTok followers, while Dianne Buswell has 966,000. Karen Hauer has 9,000 followers, compared to newcomer Alexis's 190,000.
The decision to factor in social media metrics has sparked discussion about the evolving criteria for casting on the long-running dance competition. The shake-up marks a significant transition for the beloved BBC series, as it navigates both on-screen talent changes and behind-the-scenes strategy shifts.