Rylan Clark is reportedly a favourite to take on the Strictly Come Dancing hosting job.
The 37-year-old presenter, who previously hosted Strictly’s spin-off It Takes Two, is said to have been lined up as one of the replacements for Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, who left in December.
Clark has reportedly been invited to audition for chemistry tests with other potential hosts, including Irish presenter and former Strictly contestant, Angela Scanlon, 42.
He has been shortlisted but still faces more screen tests in two weeks’ time so BBC bosses can gauge his chemistry with any other possible presenters, sources claimed.
“Rylan has a long-standing association with the show, and Angela has been a contestant,” an insider told the Mail.
“But the main thing is they'd be a totally new pairing – no baggage, no former shows, uniquely Strictly.”
The insider added that it was important to pick the right candidate if they didn’t stick to an all-female hosting duo.
“On top of that, they want to be sure that an all-female presenting line-up isn't replaced by an old-fashioned male-female duo where the man takes on a dominant role,” they said.
“Rylan isn't like that at all. Plus, he absolutely loves the show and the viewers already love him.”
Sources claimed Clark is “very keen” to be paired with Scanlon, who was a contestant in the series in 2023, and feels it would be his “dream job”.
The Standard has contacted the BBC for comment.
Clark fronted It Takes Two between 2019 and 2023. He also hosts his own Rylan On Saturday show on Radio 2 and has presented on ITV's This Morning.
Several high-profile names have already been put forward for next series’ hosts, including past winners Stacey Dooley and Kevin Clifton, Fleur East, Janette Manrara, and Roman Kemp.
Late last year, it was claimed the BBC could choose two more female hosts as the broadcaster “values the symbolism of an all-female presenting team”.
“What is more certain is the fact that execs are expected to opt for two more women, because the Beeb value the symbolism of an all-female presenting team on their biggest Saturday night show,” an insider told The Sun.
“But one element likely to play a big part is diversity because, as terrific as it is having two women hosting Strictly, they are also two middle-aged white people.”
Winkleman and Daly announced they will step down from Strictly after 21 years in a joint statement on Instagram.
Daly has fronted Strictly since it launched in 2004 with Sir Bruce Forsyth, while Winkleman became her full-time co-host in 2014 after first hosting the spin-off series the year it began.
