The ‘hush-hush’ REAL reason Claudia quit Strictly which BBC is trying to keep ‘very quiet’: TV insiders tell every detail of shock Strictly exit to KATIE HIND and ALISON BOSHOFF

His long-standing motto has been ‘keep dancing’.

But fans, staff and stars were absolutely stunned this morning when hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman announced they were planning to quit the ballroom at the end of the current series.

Even some of those who work closely with the two women were shocked by the news, which emerged in a joint statement from Tess, 56, and Claudia, 53, who have been good friends since they started working on Strictly together.

In a video on Tess’s Instagram account, the duo said they decided it was time to call it quits.

Claudia said: ‘Hi, I’m Claud and Tess. There have been some rumors and we want you to hear it from us.’ Tess added: ‘We’ve got news. After 21 absolutely wonderfully joyful years, we’ve decided it’s time to step aside and pass the baton.’

‘Very sparkly baton!’ Claudia added.

Tess explained: ‘It was a big part of our lives, wasn’t it? ‘I think our kids have gone from literally being babies in our arms to now being young adults and truly cherishing every second.’

Claudia later said: ‘We did it. ‘We’re so lucky to be a part of this amazing show and we’d like to thank the Strictly team because Strictly are the people who make it.’

Claudia and Tess confirm they’re leaving the show in an emotional video

‘They come from very different backgrounds,’ says one of his friends. ‘Tess was a model, Claudia went to Cambridge but they have a great friendship.’

In their joint statement, the stars added: ‘We loved working as a duo and hosting Strictly was an absolute dream. We were always going to leave together and now feels like the right time. ‘We’re looking forward to watching the rest of this wonderful series and we’d like to say a huge thank you to the BBC and everyone who worked on the programme.’

Despite rumors suggesting that it was Claudia who decided to leave and that Tess followed suit to avoid the embarrassment of being left behind, friends of the pair say they began discussing the idea of ​​leaving a year ago and have been ‘co-operative’ every step of the way.

‘It’s tiring for them,’ says a source. ‘This is a long program that has consumed their lives for many years, broadcast live for hours every Saturday night. It’s all-consuming and they’ve reached this point together.’

Interestingly, and perhaps tellingly, Tess and Claudia’s final agreement was signed in February; but it was only for one year instead of two like previous agreements.

However, while those close to Claudia insist she feels it is time for her to go, today the Daily Mail can reveal top secret plans are being discussed at the ‘highest level’ at the BBC for Claudia to host the prime time chat show.

Sources say the program will be ‘one of the Company’s main priorities’ in the coming months.

One of them said: ‘A glitzy, ultra-over-the-top chat show is in the works for Claudia. Jonathan Ross style but with the biggest stars and much more stylish than Jonathan’s.

‘They want the big names and huge amounts of money are being thrown at it. This is the perfect job for Claudia, the BBC loves her. He is very good at giving interviews and is credited with being around big names such as Terry Wogan and Michael Parkinson.

‘Claudia is now seen as a luxury BBC talent who would make a great chat show host, with a huge appeal across generations. There’s a lot of excitement and of course it’s going to be a challenge to balance that with Strictly and Claudia doesn’t hide the fact that she loves spending time with her family.

‘The BBC are of course keen to keep him away from ITV, so giving him this big headline gig is one way of helping him do much more than he did with Traitors. There’s a lot of excitement about this: It’s going to be a groundbreaking show hosted by a woman, and it’s going to be on TV next year.

‘Everything is confidential at the moment; The BBC is trying to keep things very quiet. But this will launch Claudia into the stratosphere.’

It is understood the program will not clash with The Graham Norton Show, which currently airs on the BBC in the autumn and early spring (and on which Claudia was a guest earlier this year).

Tess and Claudia’s definitive departure was so shocking that even the Prime Minister’s spokesman took a break from his daily Downing Street lobby briefing to address it.

‘Strictly Come Dancing is a much loved show and of course [the PM] “I wish Claudia and Tess the best for the future,” they said.

Their departure is the latest in a series of headaches for Strictly bosses, who have been hit by a string of scandals in recent years, from Graziano Di Prima kicking partner Zara McDermott during rehearsals to Amanda Abbington claiming Giovanni Pernice was bullying her (much of which was deemed untrue during an official investigation) and more recently allegations that some professionals were taking drugs.

Strictly insiders now say they are ‘trying desperately not to see this as more chaos’.

One adds: ‘This is a coup, of course. Tess and Claudia are a huge part of the show and will be missed.

‘But it’s a chance for a reset and it’s really exciting to see who can come next. It will be different, but the show will go on. Saturday and Sunday nights attract seven million viewers to the BBC. Frankly there’s nothing else to go there [on the schedules] even if it’s not successful.”

‘Everything is confidential at the moment; The BBC is trying to keep things very quiet. But this will launch Claudia into the stratosphere,” TV insiders Katie Hind and Alison Boshoff tell

It was definitely a game changer for both women’s careers. Although Claudia, who got her start on television with the now-defunct ITV show Liquid News, is more in demand today than her leading lady, it was Tess who launched Strictly with the late Sir Bruce Forsyth in 2004; Claudia was the lead actress in BBC Two’s spin-off show It Takes Two.

But in 2014 he took over from Sir Bruce, who hung up his dancing shoes three years before his death aged 89.

Tess and Claudia made history as the BBC’s first female presenting duo and formed a close bond away from the cameras.

‘They come from very different backgrounds,’ says one of his friends. ‘Tess was a model, Claudia went to Cambridge but they have a great friendship. It was no longer possible for one to do without the other, it wouldn’t be right. Of course, Claudia is more in demand, but Tess has a great career and lots of projects going on.’

Another source adds: ‘Traitors exploded with the Celebrities TV series. I think Claudia thinks her time is up on Strictly now; It’s that simple. Claudia always left after this series: It absolutely consumed her for three months. Claudia is definitely not a workaholic and likes to balance her schedule by spending time at home with her children and husband Kris.’

The love between the couple was clearly visible in the video shot this morning.

BBC sources say it’s definitely important for them to ‘grow up’ in their statements after so many scandals. Tess and Claudia happily agreed.

Claudia said in a short video that the couple “loves this series.” We’re in for a great series and can’t wait to get to Blackpool.’

Tess added: ‘And we can’t wait to do that show dance we’ve been dreaming of for so long… we’ll do it together.’

Of course, Tess and Claudia’s departure now leaves vacancies in two of the most prestigious jobs on television.

And right now the industry is buzzing with rumors about who will replace women.

One of the suggestions is Holly Willoughby, who was first linked to the job in The Mail on Sunday two years ago. He has been on the BBC’s watchlist for several years and bosses are aware it will require a major role to get him there.

It was Tess who launched Strictly in 2004, although Claudia, who started working on the now-defunct ITV show Liquid News, is more in demand than her co-star today.

Tess and Claudia made history as the BBC’s first female presenting duo and formed a close bond away from the cameras

She is close to some of the Corporation’s most senior executives, thanks to her husband Dan Baldwin, who produces major BBC programs including Saturday night shows The Wheel and Gladiators.

BBC chiefs have long been keen to have Holly and Bradley Walsh present together, having piloted Take Off With Holly & Bradley in 2019.

A series was commissioned but could not be made due to Covid.

‘This might be the ideal way to bring them together,’ says one TV insider. ‘Bradley is as close to Brucie as you can get these days.’

However, some have pointed out that Holly may struggle to land the job, often referred to as ‘the poor man’s Strictly’, due to her previous role hosting Dancing on Ice.

Alan Carr’s name has also been thrown into the mix, as has This Morning and Bake Off host Alison Hammond.

Sources say about six months ago, producers started talking about how great it would be to have Alison on the show.

‘The feeling is that he truly represents modern Britain,’ the source said. ‘They want to make the show a little more entertaining and they also want it to be more diverse. He’s got a great chance if he wants it.’

Others suggest that a host with dance experience or a connection to the show is definitely needed.

Industry insiders therefore suggest that another option could be to remove professional dancer-turned-judge Anton du Beke from the judging panel.

There are also rumors about much-loved professional dancer Janette Manrara, who fronts It Takes Two alongside former contestant Fleur East.

Speaking of which, some former celebrity contestants could also step into the role, such as former Mis-Teeq singer turned Britain’s Got Talent judge Alesha Dixon.

‘There are a lot of names being thrown around, but they probably won’t be announced until next spring,’ says a BBC source.

The question on Strictly fans’ lips is why Tess and Claudia have decided to announce their split now – a third of the way into their final series.

There was a lot of speculation that their exit would derail the show, but friends say the duo decided to make the announcement now because they wanted to finish on a high.

An insider tells the Daily Mail: ‘The ratings are definitely better than last year and last Saturday it had a 55 per cent audience share, which is very, very impressive. Tess and Claudia wanted to be done and dusted so they could enjoy the final series and treat it as a swan song.

‘They also decided not to do it in the end because they felt it would take away the honor from the winner of the show. The priority is definitely to deliver it to new homeowners in the best possible way. Tess and Claudia believe the show will go on and Strictly dancing will continue for many years to come.’