Strictly Come Dancing’s Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman ‘set to sign new contracts to host the show for two more years’

Strictly Come Dancing’s Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly are set to sign new contracts to continue hosting the show for the next two seasons.

Claudia, 52, and Tess, 55, of the Traitors have seen the end of their current contracts and it is reported that show managers are keen to return. according to the sun.

It is said that BBC bosses are keen for the pair, who have run the show for more than a decade, to sign their contracts in case a rival channel tries to sign them.

A TV source told the publication: ‘Not only is this a sign of the confidence the BBC has in the presenting duo, it also signals the commitment the corporation has to the show itself.

“They are looking to the future after the past 12 months have been dogged behind the scenes by claims of misconduct by pros Giovanni Pernice and Graziano di Prima.

‘Now bosses want to draw a line under this troubled chapter in Strictly’s history and focus on the positives – including having two women leading the biggest show on TV, something the BBC is very proud of.’

The host pair are said to have expressed their loyalty to the show when Claudia took over as co-host in 2014 after previously helming spin-off show Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two from 2004 to 2010.

MailOnline had contacted the BBC for comment.

The news comes after the show got off to a slow start last year, with the first live show grossing just 7.1 million, down from 7.8 million the year before.

The drop in viewers tuning in mirrored a similar dip for both the launch and the first live shows, with almost a million people tuning in to the former.

But it’s not all doom and gloom for scandal hit Strictly, as earlier this year it was announced that the program is still the most watched Saturday night show.

A source said The sun in September: ‘Strictly is still the most-watched program on Saturday nights, attracting double the viewers of its nearest rival in ratings.

‘And while viewership during the catch-up increases, the BBC has always prided itself on providing a shared experience for the dance show.

“But it seems fewer and fewer people are choosing to share it on Saturday nights.”

The BBC Latin and ballroom show returned to screens in the autumn amid a major scandal and a shock NTA win on its 20th anniversary.

Throughout 2024, Strictly has been embroiled in a scandal that all started when Sherlock actress Amanda Abbington accused her partner Giovanni Pernice of bullying.

A months-long investigation was launched by the broadcaster, and the professional was not invited back to this series.

Giovanni was cleared of ten of Amanda’s sixteen allegations when the BBC investigation concluded in September, but remained absent for the current edition of the series.

Despite bosses finding Giovanni not to be threatening or physically abusive, a number of Amanda’s complaints of verbal bullying and intimidation were upheld.

The BBC also sometimes agreed with Amanda that it seemed like he was giving her overly negative feedback.

In a written statement, a spokesperson for Giovanni said: “We are pleased that this six-month review did not find any evidence of threatening or abusive behavior by Giovanni.”

Graziano Di Prima was later sacked by the BBC following claims of serious misconduct against his former partner Zara McDermott.

Graziano, 30, admitted at the time to kicking Zara during their sessions and claimed he scared her so much she ‘locked herself in a toilet’.

Mark Borkowski, a spokesman for Graziano, told BBC News: ‘There is never a moment when you have to kick, or whatever feeling is right. And he knows that.

‘He knows he made a mistake. He apologized at the time.’

Referring to the media reports, Mark added: ‘But he doesn’t recognize some of the issues surrounding it. The descriptions of what is commented online and how he remembers it are incorrect.”

At launch, the show suffered a major blow when ratings plummeted due to the scandals, raking in over a million less than normal.

Another minor controversy arose earlier this year when Katya Jones pushed her partner Wynne Evan’s hand away from her during a live broadcast.

Appearing on the spin-off series It Takes Two, Wynne admitted to rewatching footage of the incident and confessed, “I understand how people misinterpreted it.”

While clinging to his arm, Katya said she “can’t stand” the criticism her co-star is receiving and was empathetic that there was no wrongdoing.

She said: ‘The idea that it made me feel uncomfortable or offended is complete nonsense, and for those who doubt, you are wrong. Hopefully this is the end of it and you’ll continue to make me laugh.’

She added: “I can’t sit here and watch this man being portrayed as someone he’s not. In fact, it couldn’t be further from the truth.

“So I have to make it very clear that this whole incident, with the hand and high five on Saturday night, was an inside joke between Wynne and me. Was it a lame joke? Yeah, was it a bad joke? Yes.’