Strictly Come Dancing is undergoing a significant overhaul as BBC executives weigh up their next presenting line-up following the departure of Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.
The pair stepped down at the end of the 2025 series — a decision that surprised many viewers — closing the chapter on one of the show’s most recognisable duos.
Attention has since turned to who might take over the BBC ballroom.
While no appointments have been confirmed, a number of high-profile names have been linked to the role, including Zoe Ball, Emma Willis and Fleur East.
Alison Hammond had also been among those in contention, but earlier this week she confirmed she had been approached and declined the opportunity due to her demanding schedule.
“I have, actually,” she said when asked about the role. “You didn’t expect that answer, did you? I can’t lie, I’m incapable.”
“I’m so busy, babes, that I’m not sure it’s going to happen. It’s unrealistic. I’m so happy they considered me but, like Traitors, I can’t do it because everything clashes.”
Her decision has left the field more open — and, in the eyes of bookmakers, has further strengthened Rylan Clark’s position as the frontrunner.
The presenter, who previously hosted Strictly spin-off It Takes Two, has seen his odds dramatically shorten in light of Hammond’s admission.
Coral has cut Clark to 1-2, down from 3-1, amid a surge of backing.
“We have seen one-way traffic for Rylan Clark in our Strictly Come Dancing host market,” said Coral spokesperson John Hill. “He is now odds-on for the role and could team up with Zoe Ball as one of the new faces of the show.”
Ball remains another frontrunner at 1-4, followed by Willis at 6-4, with both Fleur East and Janette Manrara priced at 4-1.
Hannah Waddingham and Roman Kemp sit at 5-1, while Holly Willoughby trails at 6-1.
The BBC is understood to be actively testing potential pairings, with “chemistry tests” reportedly taking place in the coming weeks.
Clark is said to have been invited to audition alongside a number of possible co-hosts, including Irish presenter and former contestant Angela Scanlon.
“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.”
Further screen tests are expected as executives look to identify a partnership that can carry the flagship entertainment show into its next phase.
Sources suggest the focus is not only on individual popularity, but on how well presenters connect on screen — a dynamic long credited with Daly and Winkleman’s success.
There is also ongoing debate over whether the BBC will retain an all-female presenting line-up or pivot towards a mixed pairing.
