
Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman stunned the Strictly Come Dancing fanbase earlier this month when they both announced this would be their last season hosting the show. Tess Daly has been the face of Strictly ever since it started in 2004, while Winkleman was an instant hit with the fans after joining in 2014.
The duo will certainly leave big boots to fill, and speculation is rife as to who will be the next Strictly Come Dancing host. In this preview, we take a closer look at all of the leading candidates and offer our thoughts on the current next Strictly Come Dancing betting odds from our online casino partners.
Let’s see how Betfred are pricing up the Strictly Come Dancing host 2026 betting market.
Former Strictly contestant and Hits Radio host Fleur East has emerged as the early favourite to host next year’s Strictly Come Dancing. The former X-Factor star is currently the co-host of Strictly’s companion show, It Takes Two, and has proven a huge hit with audiences. She is currently priced at 2/1 with Betfred.
Her co-host, Janette Manrara, is also one of the favourites, with Betfred pricing her at 3/1. Given that the show is likely to continue to have two hosts, both Fleur and Manrara offer value at these prices. The BBC is known for promoting from within, as we saw with the new Match of the Day presenting team earlier this year, and the fact that the two know the show so well will work in their favour.
Just below Fleur in the bookmakers’ odds is Ted Lasso star Hannah Waddingham. Waddingham has become a bit of a national treasure in recent years, and she has won over BBC audiences with her fantastic work as host of Eurovision in 2023 and 2024. She would certainly bring some star power to the role, and is currently priced at 11/4 with Betfred. While Fleur and Janette would be the safe choice, we think there is real value in backing Waddingham, whose glamorous persona is perfectly suited to the show.
Another candidate with links to It Takes Two and Eurovision is Rylan Clark. Rylan is undoubtedly a fan favourite and would prove to be a popular choice. A partnership between him and Hannah Waddingham would undoubtedly bring a lot of energy and prove to be a huge hit. He is available at 3/1 with Betfred.
Outside of these four, other candidates include Zoe Ball and Emma Willis, who are available at 10/3 and 3/1, respectively, and popular radio host Roman Kemp, who is at 11/2.
You can watch Strictly Come Dancing every Saturday at 6:30 pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer, with the results airing the following night at 7:15 pm.
Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly currently host the show. Daly has been in the role since the show started in 2004, hosting alongside Bruce Forsyth. Forsyth retired from the show in 2014, and Claudia Winkleman, who had been hosting It Takes Two, was promoted to co-host alongside Daly.

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