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It was back in November when Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly made the shock announcement that they were leaving Strictly Come Dancing, after 14 years of presenting the show together.
Fans of the show were devastated at the loss of the Strictly's hugely popular presenting duo, but it wasn't long before rumours began circulating on who the new Strictly presenters would be.
Several famous faces are believed to be in the running for Saturday night TV's top job, but now Strictly's professional dancing duo Amy Dowden and Carlos Gu have revealed who their dream presenters would be.
We caught up with Amy and Carlos at the TV Choice Awards where they spilled the beans on who's on their Strictly host wishlist. Carlos even revealed that he'd had a premonition that two dance-loving celebs had landed the top job.
"I’m always holding back against saying but, I dreamt about two people last night," Carlos told us. "Ashley Banjo and Angela Scanlon, as a pair! Angela would be brilliant, she’s so fashion forward and would make the show look fresh and young."
Amy was quick to agree that ex-Strictly star Angela would be a great choice but shared some other well-known names she'd love to see.
"I’d love to see Angela, but I’d also love Emma Willis or Zoe Ball," she confessed.
Both Amy and Carlos agree on one thing though, that whoever takes over, the energy and ethos of Strictly should never change.
"Whoever it is they’re going to bring a new energy and I think it’s going to be really exciting," said Amy. "What we’ve got to remember is the format of Strictly is so gorgeous and beautiful. It was great seeing Carlos and Karen and the friendship they built last year. We got to love and watch that friendship grow on TV, watch her shine week after week and develop into a dancer. That really is the heart of Strictly Come Dancing."
Carlos echoed the same sentiment saying; "I remember Karen said to me Strictly is not about individuals, it’s about bringing joy to people. At the end of the day it doesn't matter who is presenting the show as long as it's still spreading joy."
Who else is rumoured to be the next Strictly presenter?
Holly Willoughby was one of the first names to be mentioned with ex-BBC controller Peter Finchman allegedly claiming she will be stepping into Tess’ shoes, telling a hairdresser, “What’s said in Harry’s the hairdresser stays in Harry’s.” Evidently not!
Alex Jones, Strictly 2011 finalist and longtime fan, has also been rumoured to pair up with veteran host Bradley Walsh—star of The Chase, Gladiators, and more—for an unlikely but family-friendly dream duo.
Although Alan Carr hasn’t been linked with a partner yet, his Celebrity Traitors success has sparked rumours he could take over the reigns from next year, with his comedy and warmth making him a perfect fit alongside the right co-host.
Former It Takes Two host Rylan Clark’s warmth and humour make him a natural for Claudia and Tess' job, but with his popular Saturday Radio 2 show—including chats with his mum Linda and Ka-ry-oke sessions with guests—it’s hard to imagine him doing both without fans missing him on the airwaves.
Amy could be right about former It Takes Two contestant and host Zoe Ball—who once filled in for Claudia. Zoe regularly gushes about the show on her Radio 2 show and would be a natural fit, leading some to wonder if she could be the next Tess!
Alison Hammond’s name popped up immediately, most likely because she’s linked to every presenting gig these days, but despite her rising star and Strictly past, she might be too busy to give up her Saturday and Sunday evenings.
Whoever lands the dream job of presenting Strictly will certainly have some big shoes to fill, taking over a show adored by millions and following in the footsteps of two hosts who have become household names. We don't know about you but we can't wait to who the lucky pair are. Watch this space!
Claire Tapley is a digital editor for Yours.co.uk. She is a journalist with over 18 years' experience writing for women over 50. Before moving to Yours.co.uk, she was deputy editor of Yours magazine for nine years. Claire is extremely passionate about all things TV related, with her favourite shows including Traitors, Strictly and The Great British Bake Off.