SHOCK: Tess Daly Breaks Silence On Strictly Shake-Up As ‘Real Reason’ Behind Exit Emerges
Tess Daly has spoken out about the new series of Strictly Come Dancing after watching the BBC show from home for the first time since stepping down as presenter.
The 2026 series marks a major change for Strictly, with Tess and longtime co-host Claudia Winkleman no longer fronting the ballroom competition.
In their place, Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe have taken over presenting duties as part of a wider shake-up that also includes changes to the professional dancer line-up and a new format for revealing celebrity partnerships.
Tess, who presented Strictly for more than two decades, shared her reaction as the new series launched on Saturday night.
Posting a picture of the celebrities and professional dancers gathered together, she wrote: “@BBCStrictly class of 26!”
She added: “So excited for tonight! And to finally be able to watch Strictly in flat shoes!”
Tess Shows Support for New Strictly Line-Up
Her message made clear that despite stepping away from the programme, Tess remains supportive of the show she fronted for so many years.
The launch marked the first major episode under Emma, Josh and Johannes, who have been tasked with succeeding one of Strictly’s most familiar presenting partnerships.
Tess’s light-hearted reference to watching in “flat shoes” also reflected the very different position she now finds herself in after years of preparing for live Saturday-night broadcasts.
Instead of being backstage and under the studio lights, she was finally able to experience the programme as a viewer.
The message came after months of discussion over why Tess decided to leave the show alongside Claudia.
Tess Opens Up About Wanting More Family Time
Recent comments from Tess have offered more insight into the priorities behind her decision to step away from the demanding weekend schedule.
Speaking on the Happy Mum Happy Baby podcast, she discussed how heavily her daughters influence the way she thinks about work and her free time.
“I’m not someone who goes for a day to the spa,” she said.
“I’m thinking, what do my kids need me to do today? Do you know what I mean?”
Tess explained that when work takes her away from her family, she often feels the need to compensate afterwards.
“So I’m always making up for that,” she said.
“If I’ve worked for a day or two, then I’m like, now this time I need to do more for them because I was absent here.”
Her comments suggest that reclaiming more personal and family time was an important consideration as she moved on from Strictly.
‘I Could Be on Weekend Breaks’
Tess also joked about what life might look like with more freedom at weekends.
“If I remove them from that picture… I don’t know,” she said while discussing how she might spend her time.
“I mean, it could be quite lovely, it could be really great.”
She then joked: “I could be on weekend breaks with my girlfriends to Ibiza. How about that? I might be back dancing on podiums.”
The remarks showed a lighter side to her decision to step away after more than 20 years of regular weekend commitments to the BBC competition.
A Very Different Strictly Begins
The new series represents one of the biggest changes Strictly Come Dancing has undergone in years.
Alongside the arrival of Emma, Josh and Johannes, several professional dancers are no longer part of the programme, while the traditional celebrity pairing format has also been changed.
The new hosts made their official debut as the class of 2026 began its journey in the ballroom.
For longtime viewers, one of the biggest differences remains the absence of Tess and Claudia, whose partnership became a defining part of the show.
Tess’s latest social media message, however, suggests she is watching the new era with enthusiasm rather than regret.
After decades spent hosting the programme in glamorous outfits and high heels, she can now enjoy Saturday nights from the other side of the screen — and, as she happily pointed out, in flat shoes.
