Shirley Ballas addresses Strictly future after Tess and Claudia's shock exit announcement
Shirley Ballas made a comment about her future on BBC's Strictly Come Dancing, following Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman's exit announcement
Strictly Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas has revealed her thoughts on the impending departure of hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman from the popular BBC show. The dynamic duo left fans and colleagues in shock last month when they announced that this series would be their last after 12 years together.
In a heartfelt video message, Tess and Claudia expressed: "We have loved working as a duo, and hosting Strictly has been an absolute dream. We were always going to leave together, and now feels like the right time. We will have the greatest rest of this amazing series and just want to say an enormous thank you to the BBC and every single person who works on the show!
"They're the most brilliant team, and we'll miss them every day. We will cry when we say the last 'keep dancing,' but we will continue to say it to each other - just possibly in tracksuit bottoms at home while holding some pizza."
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Reflecting on their exit, Shirley voiced her belief that the show will survive without them, but emphasised that their replacements need to be "seasoned professionals".
She told Best Magazine: "Absolutely, it survived both Len Goodman and Sir Bruce Forsyth leaving, bless them both. Strictly is bigger than any of us - the celebrities, professionals, presenters, judges.
"It's like Coronation Street in that no one is bigger than the show. I will miss Tess and Claudia very much, but sometimes in people's lives, they feel it's time to move on, and we have to respect that."
Discussing her own future on the panel, the 65-year-old continued: "One day I'll be ready to move on too, and that will be my choice.
Describing Strictly as "an institution," Shirley said it will continue to flourish as long as it brings happiness to viewers.
When pressed on who she believes could replace the duo, Shirley remained tight-lipped, though mentioned that Rylan Clark is her mother's top pick.
She added: "What is for sure is that we need a pair of seasoned professionals for it. It's going to take two very, very special people. And I think no matter who it will be, they will own it, and then we'll move on from that era."
Tess has presented Strictly since its launch, originally co-hosting alongside the late Bruce Forsyth, before Claudia stepped in.
Despite the rumours however, Kate Phillips, Chief Content Officer at the BBC, recently confirmed that no decisions will be made until next year.
Speaking on The Rest Is Entertainment podcast, she explained: "The production team, BBC Studios, and Executive Producer Sarah James and her team are concentrating on getting two shows out a week.
"We have loved working as a duo, and hosting Strictly has been an absolute dream. We were always going to leave together, and now feels like the right time.
"We will have the greatest rest of this amazing series and just want to say an enormous thank you to the BBC and every single person who works on the show.! They're the most brilliant team, and we'll miss them every day. We will cry when we say the last 'keep dancing,' but we will continue to say it to each other - just possibly in tracksuit bottoms at home while holding some pizza."
"We haven't got time at the moment to start doing any screen tests or chemistry testing. I don't think we'll really be looking at it until the New Year because we want to make sure we deliver a great Strictly series."
Strictly Come Dancing continues tonight at 6.35pm on BBC One.
