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Oti Mabuse won the Glitterball Trophy two years in a row(Image: Joe Maher/Getty Images for the NTA’s)
Oti Mabuse is “devastated” by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman’s departures from Strictly Come Dancing. The presenters announced on Thursday that they are set to leave the show at the end of the current series. The former Strictly professional dancer is among the long list of stars to wish the pair well following the news.
Oti won the Glitterball Trophy twice during her time on the show. First in 2019 with soap star Kelvin Fletcher and again in 2020 with comedian Bill Bailey. She commented on a post on Instagram announcing Tess and Claudia’s exit from the show.
She said: “Wow, how devastating. You two have been incredible to work with, thank you so much for all the beautiful memories. Representing females, presenters, being iconic, the laughs and the years of family you’ve given us. From the beginning you were the highlight of our weekends. Wish you both luck. I will miss you so much.”
Currently Strictly professional dancer Karen Hauer hailed the “powerhouse duo” following the confirmation of their departure. She said: “I love you both so much. Powerhouse duo.” Meanwhile, former It Takes Two host Zoe Ball wrote: “Absolutely class act. Bravo ladies. Huge love.”
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Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman have announced they are leaving Strictly Come Dancing (Image: BBC)
Helen Skelton, who reached the final of Strictly in 2022, said whoever replaces Tess and Claudia will have “big shoes to fill”. The 42-year-old presenter told BBC Radio 5 Live: “You look at Tess’ eyes when you finish a dance. On behalf of everyone who’s been on that dance floor, you look at Tess for reassurance – and Claudia for a laugh.
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“It’s a real shame. They’ve served that show so well. It’s going to leave a massive hole. I can’t for one second think that was an easy decision. It’s become their identity.
“Tess has done the show for 21 years, it’s been her whole life. So, I think people will be sad when they go. Whoever steps into it next has big shoes to fill.”
Tess, 56, and Claudia, 53, shared a joint statement about their exit and stressed that they always planned “to leave together”.
In a video message posted on Daly’s Instagram feed, they said: “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 we just want to say an enormous thank you to the BBC and to 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. Tess and Claud.”
Tess has presented the show since its very first episode alongside Sir Bruce Forsyth. Claudia originally presented Strictly: It Takes Two before moving over to host the results show alongside Tess in 2010. They began hosting the main show together just over 10 years ago.
The presenters were the first all-female partnership to host a primetime entertainment programme on British TV. In June 2025, Tess and Claudia were both made Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for their services to broadcasting.
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