Frontrunners for Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman's Strictly replacements revealed

With Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman set to leave Strictly Come Dancing at the end of this series, speculation is rife about who will step into their shoes.

Bookmakers are already placing bets on who will secure the coveted role, as BBC bosses reportedly insist that the show must continue after 21 years on air.

Fleur East, current presenter of Strictly spin-off show It Takes Two, has been given odds of 2/1. Given that Claudia landed the main gig after taking over from the late, great Bruce Forsyth, it seems logical that Fleur would be considered for the position.

Her co-presenter Janette Manrara is also a contender with odds of 3/1. Other potential replacements include former It Takes Two presenter Rylan Clark and TV and radio host Roman Kemp.

Zoe Ball, Holly Willoughby and Hannah Waddingham are other big names being suggested, reports the Mirror.

Former celebrity contestants such as documentary maker Stacey Dooley, ex-England footballer turned pundit Alex Scott, This Morning host Alison Hammond and ex-EastEnders star Rose Ayling-Ellis are also in the mix, according to odds from Gambling.com..

While he's not included in the odds just yet, Robbie Williams seems to have expressed interest in the top job.

The 51 year old Let Me Entertain You singer took to X to tell his 2.3 million followers: "Just got a rather fancy phone call about a very glittery dance floor job. Apparently, sequins and tuxedos might be in my future. Stay tuned," followed by a wink face emoji.

A source told The Sun: "At this stage it's all to play for and there isn't any kind of heir apparent – though there are some obvious stars who'd be possibilities.

"What is more certain is the fact that execs are expected to opt for two more women, because the Beeb value the symbolism of an all-female presenting team on their biggest Saturday night show.

"But one element likely to play a big part is diversity because, as terrific as it is having two women hosting Strictly, they are also two middle-aged white people. This was a show created 21 years ago and now has to consider what it should look and feel like from 2026 onwards."

The reveal has arrived at an ideal moment for Claudia, who ranks amongst television's most sought-after hosts currently.

She's presently basking in enormous triumph with BBC game show The Traitors and its celebrity edition, which is broadcasting at present.

She's also secured another series of Channel 4 talent show The Piano.

Both programmes are reportedly ideal for Claudia as "it's lucrative and fun gig... but it also doesn't eat into her life too much."

The filming of both shows only takes a few weeks, allowing her more time to spend with her family, including her husband Kris Thykier and their three children. This is in stark contrast to Strictly, which "basically takes over her life for four months at a time".

Tess and Claudia's final appearance will be on the current series' finale airing on Saturday, 20 December. However, they will both feature in a special episode set to air on Christmas Day.

It's been a remarkable 21-year journey with Tess, 56, leading the show. Her former co-host was the late, great Bruce Forsyth, who passed away in 2017 aged 89.

Claudia, 53, previously hosted the Strictly spin-off show It Takes Two, before stepping up in 2014 to become Tess' co-host for the last 11 years.