Three of the favourites to take over at Strictly Come Dancing.placeholder image
Three of the favourites to take over at Strictly Come Dancing. | Getty Images

New Strictly Come Dancing Hosts Odds Latest: Here are the 12 stars tipped to take over from Tess and Claudia - including Hannah Waddingham

By David Hepburn

Writer-at-large

Published 11th Dec 2025, 16:41 GMT

It’s one (or rather two of) the biggest jobs in British television so there are sure to be plenty of applicants.

This year’s Strictly Come Dancing is nearing its climax - with only four celebrity dancers left.

The semi-finals take place this week, with reality TV star Amber Davies, EastEnders actress Balvinder Sopal, internet star George Clarke and former Lioness Karen Carney hoping to make the final.

Strictly first aired back in 2004 and has become the world’s most successful reality television franchaise - there are version in over 60 different countries around the world.

But the biggest news this year broke earlier this series - with hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly announcing they would be leaving the show.

Since debuting in 2004 there have only ever been three hosts of the show, with Winkleman taking over from Bruce Forsyth in 2014.

Read more: Strictly Come Dancing: Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman to leave Strictly - joint statement in full

Now speculation is growing about who is going to take over the reins next year.

Here are the 12 favourites, according to the experts a OLBG.

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Holly Willoughby has already presented 'Dancing on Ice' so would be a great fit for Strictly - if she could be tempted over to the BBC. She's priced at 9/2.

5. Holly Willoughby - 9/2

Holly Willoughby has already presented 'Dancing on Ice' so would be a great fit for Strictly - if she could be tempted over to the BBC. She's priced at 9/2. | Getty Images

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'This Morning' presenter and former 'Big Brother' star Rylan Clark may have raised eyebrows with his comments on immigration earlier this year, but he's still a 5/1 shot to take over at Strictly. He's another former host of 'It Takes Two'.

6. Rylan Clark - 5/1

'This Morning' presenter and former 'Big Brother' star Rylan Clark may have raised eyebrows with his comments on immigration earlier this year, but he's still a 5/1 shot to take over at Strictly. He's another former host of 'It Takes Two'. | Getty Images for Paramount Pictu

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Model, dancer, author and tv personality Tasha Ghouri was born deaf and found fame on Love Island before taking second place in Strictly Come Dancing last year. She's a 5/1 shot to return to host.

7. Tasha Ghouri - 5/1

Model, dancer, author and tv personality Tasha Ghouri was born deaf and found fame on Love Island before taking second place in Strictly Come Dancing last year. She's a 5/1 shot to return to host. | Getty Images

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Another celeb priced at 5/1 to take over one of the biggest jobs in TV is DJ Zoe Ball. She came third in the third series of Strictly and went on to present 'It Takes Two'.

8. Zoe Ball - 5/1

Another celeb priced at 5/1 to take over one of the biggest jobs in TV is DJ Zoe Ball. She came third in the third series of Strictly and went on to present 'It Takes Two'. | Getty Images

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