Strictly’s Claudia Winkleman teases future on show after ’emotional’ exit

Tess and Claudia are leaving Strictly with their final show set to be the Christmas special.

Strictly Come Dancing host Claudia Winkleman has revealed her dream dance partner should she ever compete on the programme as a contestant.

The Traitors star has confirmed her departure from Strictly alongside co-presenter Tess Daly, with their final appearance scheduled for the upcoming Christmas special.

Looking back on their heartfelt tenure together, the pair – who have helmed Strictly as a team since 2014 following Claudia’s arrival after Sir Bruce Forsyth’s departure – made a guest appearance on the Strictly spin-off It Takes Two on Tuesday evening.

When questioned about which professional dancer she’d choose to partner with, Claudia immediately named Johannes Radebe.

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Claudia hinted at dancing with a professional Strictly Come Dancing star

She declared: “I would do anything with JoJo. Just saying that out loud,” reports Wales Online.

After Janette Manrara responded, “He’s a good one,” Claudia joked: “Whatever he wants. Even if he said, ‘I don’t want to dance, will you make me a risotto?’ I’ve never made one, I would heat some stock.”

She quickly clarified: “None of what I said is code, I meant, I would make him supper.”

During their It Takes Two appearance, both Tess and Claudia acknowledged their farewell show will be deeply moving.

Claudia revealed: “I think we will be emotional, but of course, it won’t be about us, it’ll be about the winners, so that’s quite good,” with Tess adding: “We’re not allowed to cry.”

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Tess and Claudia appeared on It Takes Two on Tuesday(Image: BBC)

Claudia continued: “But afterwards, we will hold each other very tight and cry. It’s a lot.”

This follows recent speculation amongst fans that Johannes Radebe might leave Strictly after this series, particularly after his early elimination with Alex Kingston several weeks ago.

Following the dance-off announcement, Johannes expressed his gratitude to Alex: “Thank you, because I have never grinned this much in my life, for the past couple of weeks with you. Thank you, Alex, for being a trooper.

“I appreciate the laughs, and I’ll hold onto the memories, but as far as the dancing goes, I think we’ve achieved what we both wanted to achieve.”

Claudia and Tess are leaving Strictly at the end of this series(Image: BBC/Guy Levy)

He continued with what seemed like a heartfelt farewell: “To my Strictly family, I love you,” as he gazed around the ballroom at the judges, presenters and fellow performers. “I’m forever grateful. Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

Viewers were left worried by what appeared to be a parting message, with one asking on social media: “Why did that sound like a final goodbye from Johannes?!?”

“Johannes saying he’ll be forever grateful to his Strictly family?!?! Does that mean this is his last year??” another wondered.

A third commented: “That also felt like a goodbye from Johannes too and that is a very sad thing to contemplate.”

Johannes Radebe sparked fears he’d quit after a “goodbye speech” following his exit with Alex Kingston(Image: PA)

Earlier this year, Tess and Claudia revealed their departure from Strictly, describing their tenure as “an absolute dream” whilst explaining it “feels like the right time” to step away.

They stated: “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.”