Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman return to Strictly for the first time since announcing their exits as they emotionally address viewers
Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman returned to live TV on Saturday night, opening Strictly for the first time since announcing their departure from the show.
The iconic duo made history as the BBC’s first female presenting duo, but this week they sent shockwaves across the country after sharing the news that the current series would be their last.
Speaking to viewers at the start of the show, Tess said: ‘Just before we started tonight, Claud and I announced this week that this will be our final series of Strictly Come Dancing.’
As the audience was filled with enthusiasm, Claudia continued: ‘We want to thank you for your lovely messages.
‘We’ve got eight more weeks of this incredible show and we definitely have a champion to champion.’
Tess concluded: ‘And we can’t wait to spend the rest of the series with you, our wonderful couples and these four of us. [the judges].’
The iconic duo made history as the BBC’s first female presenting duo, but this week they sent shockwaves across the country after sharing that the current series would be their last.
As the pair gave their exit speech at the start of the show, Claudia said: ‘We want to thank you for your lovely messages. ‘We’ve got eight more weeks of this incredible show.’
Taking to Instagram to confirm the news on their respective social media platforms on Thursday, Tess and Claudia shared a video of themselves sitting side by side explaining their decision
Performing first at Icons Week, Lewis Cope and his professional partner Katya Jones earned 34 points by dancing Johnny Cash’s Quick Step to the Ring of Fire.
Next up were Karen and Carlos, who performed Rumba to Think Twice by Céline Dion.
Karen admitted she was “a little down” and visibly upset after a mishap during the dance. Claudia leaned down to hold his hand and said: ‘No baby, I don’t want you to be sad.’ Despite the mistake, the referees gave the duo 28 points.
They were followed by Ellie and Vito, who danced the Salsa to a Spice Girls medley.
Craig told him he needed more ‘cool action’, resulting in intense booing from the crowd.
“You grow with this competition and you are a force,” Motsi said as Ellie’s face lit up and the audience cheered.
The actress was stunned when Baby Spice Emma Bunton appeared on screen with a recorded video message, greeting her as their “favourite”.
Following the huge success of The Traitors, Claudia will host a chat show with the same producers as Graham Norton, although it was always agreed that she and Tess would leave the BBC show at the same time.
In their first performance of Icons Week, Lewis Cope and his professional partner Katya Jones earned 34 points with their dance Quick Step to Johnny Cash’s Ring of Fire.
Karen and Carlos participating in Rumba to Think Twice by Céline Dion.
Karen admitted she was “a little down” after a mishap during the dance and became visibly upset when Claudia leaned in to comfort her.
Ellie Goldstein transforms into Baby Spice as she dances the Salsa to the Spice Girls medley with pro partner Vito
The actress was stunned when Baby Spice Emma Bunton appeared on screen with a recorded video message, hailing her as their “favourite”.
The presenter couple wrote an emotional message to their fans under the clip.
Tess co-presented the BBC One show with Bruce Forsyth before Claudia joined her as permanent co-host in 2014.
Some of the best names on television, including Hannah Waddingham, Rylan Clark and Zoe Ball, have thrown their hat in the ring to replace Tess and Claudia.
Numerous professionals, past and present, have shared their opinions on Tess and Claudia’s decision to split.
‘I’ll never forget Len Goodman trying to teach me what a cucaracha was (I still don’t know) and the great excitement and honor of working with Tess on the results show to co-host Saturday nights.
‘It’s an absolutely magical, sparkly, fake-tanned train and it was a privilege to be a small part of it.
‘The extraordinary talents of the dancers, the band, the hair, make-up and costume teams, the incredible production team and the creatives; They are all simply magnificent.
‘I’ve always believed it’s best to leave the party before you’re fully ready and I know the new hosts will be amazing, I’m looking forward to watching them take it to new heights for sure.
As for Tess, I’m so lucky to be able to stand next to you. ‘You’re funny, kind, very smart and a true friend and I love you.’
In recent years Tess has given a few hints of passing the baton to being the main presenter, while Claudia revealed she faced awkward conversations with Strictly bosses about the show’s conflicts with her family life, namely taking her son to college to start his first year away from home.
