BBC Strictly Come Dancing fans have reacted to Rylan Clark's It Takes Two departure. The presenter has hosted the spin-off show alongside Janette Manrara for four years but has announced he is quitting with a heartfelt message.
Posting a statement on social media, the 34-year-old said: "After 4 fantastic years it's time for me to hang up my glittery jacket and say goodbye to It Takes Two. I've had the best time hosting the show alongside Janette and Zoe and I can't thank the amazing team enough for always putting on a great show. I've been welcomed into the Strictly family and will firmly hold that title dear to me."
Explaining why he was stepping down, Rylan added: "The time has come for me to pass on the baton to someone else and explore what else life has for me. Thank you Strictly, you will always have my heart… and dancing feet."
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Strictly It Takes Two has confirmed it will announce a new presenter in due course. Following the statement, Rylan was flooded with support from devastated fans.
One wrote: "Nooooooooooooooo. You excel on this show and will be missed (please be a contestant instead!)" While another added: "You'll be missed. You need to do Strictly."
Others speculated Rylan would be presenting the Big Brother reboot, with one follower suggesting: "Does this mean Big Brother?"
As another commented: "I'm gonna predict he's the new host of Big Brother.. has to be him."
Celebrity friends and Strictly co-stars also commented, with presenter Angela Scanlon simply sharing a string of red heart emojis, while AJ Odudu wrote: "Take a bow darling, you've been fabulous."
Commenting on the announcement, Director of Unscripted Kate Phillips said: "On behalf of BBC Two, BBC Daytime, and Strictly fans everywhere, I want to thank Rylan for entertaining audiences so brilliantly for the past four years on Strictly It Takes Two. Rylan’s infectious personality, his stand out sass and his genuine love for all the glitz and glamour of the ballroom, has been a big part of It Takes Two’s continued success. Rylan will always be part of the Strictly family of course, but I know he ‘ll be hugely missed by all the Strictly It Takes Two viewers, Janette and everyone else who works on the show."
And Executive Producer Strictly It Takes Two, Eve Winstanley, added: "It has been so much fun working with Rylan. Myself and the It Takes Two team will miss his boundless energy and love for entertaining viewers. We’d like to thank him for being a huge sparkling part of the Strictly family for the last 4 years." For more showbiz and television stories get our newsletter here.
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