Strictly's Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly quit show after 21 years with joint statement

Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly have confirmed they have quit as the hosts for Strictly Come Dancing.

The hosts shared a joine statement that read: "We have loved working as a duo and hosting Strictly has been an absolute dream.
We were always going to leave together and now feels like the right time.

"We will have the greatest rest of this amazing series and we just want to say an enormous thank you to the BBC and to every single person who works on the show.

"They're the most brilliant team and we'll miss them every day. We will cry when we say the last "keep dancing" but we will continue to say it to each other. Just possibly in tracksuit bottoms at home while holding some pizza."

Tess and Claudia both issued separate statements to confirm their respective exits.

Tess explained in her post that it would be hard to put into words what the show has meant to her, but celebrated the joy, celebration, and bringing people together it had.

She said: "From that very first series, I had the great honour of standing alongside the incomparable Sir Bruce Forsyth. Brucie set the tone for everything that Strictly became: warmth, wit, connection, and pure showbiz magic."

Tess wrote: "Thank you for the laughter, the friendship, and the countless memories over all these years. You've filled my heart in ways I'll never forget. I'll miss you all so much. And to you - the viewers at home - the biggest thank you of all. Thank you for welcoming us into your home for over two decades."

She added that it felt like the "right time to hand over the reins", and praised Claudia for being "one of a kind", adding: "I'm so grateful to have you as my friend for life."

Claudia also shared an update confirming she would be stepping down from the show, adding that it was "difficult to put into words" what the BBC show had meant to her. She added it was a "complete honour" to work with Tess on the results show, to then co-hosting on Saturday nights.

The Traitors host wrote: "Strictly is a magical, glittery, fake tanned train and it's been a privilege to be a tiny part of it. The extraordinary talent of the dancers, the band, the hair and makeup and costume teams, the unbelievable production crew and creatives - all utterly amazing.

"I've always believed it's best to leave a party before you're fully ready to go and I know the new hosts will be magnificent, I look forward to watching them take Strictly to new heights. As for Tess - I'm so so lucky I got to stand next to you. You're funny, kind, whip smart and a true friend and I love you."