Victoria Coren Mitchell ‘blows the whistle’ on next Strictly hosts

Victoria Coren Mitchell has “blown the whistle” on the future hosts of Strictly Come Dancing following Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman’s departure. Back in October, the dynamic duo announced they would be waltzing away from the BBC ballroom show after 21 years fronting the show. Since the news broke, speculation has run wild, with fans desperate to learn who the new hosts of the long-running show will be this autumn.  

Now, the Only Connect presenter has revealed who she believes will be the next double act to take on the coveted roles. Taking to X – formerly Twitter – the broadcaster teased her answer to her readers.

She penned: “In my TV column today – well, it’s indiscreet, but I’m blowing the whistle on the likely next host of Strictly Come Dancing.” In her weekly column for the Telegraph, she penned: “Who do I actually think they should go with? Mel [Giedroyc] and Sue [Perkins], obviously. That’s a no-brainer.

"They are funny and lovely, silly and clever, glamorous and relatable, and the BBC still hasn’t recovered from their loss as a Bake Off pair 10 years ago.”

She warned viewers that this change will always come with an adjustment period, meaning the best choice for their replacements is either “total unknowns” or “two familiar faces”.  

The presenter explained: “You need total unknowns, or a pair who bring unbreakable mass loyalty from the start. Mel and Sue are the only two familiar faces in Britain who, in my opinion, should say yes if they are offered it.”  

It comes after BBC veteran Johnny Ball has revealed his daughter Zoe is "in the mix" to take over the hosting gig from the TV juggernauts. The children's TV presenter has addressed the ongoing rumours about his daughter's future in TV. 

Last month, the broadcaster announced that she was stepping down from BBC Radio 2, but reassured listeners that she would "not be disappearing completely". She will take over the lunchtime slot from presenter Emma Willis following ehr final show on December 20. 

Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk, Zoe’s dad Johnny revealed that “people are coming to” the mum-of-two to discuss the coveted role. He told us: “Nothing's going to be decided until after Easter, but she’s in the mix, and people are coming to her, but it’s too early to say.

“I think she would love it, I think she would love the job because she took over from Claudia on It Takes Two, and if anything, she did a better job than Claudia.”