EXCLUSIVE: The presenters will depart Strictly Come Dancing following this year’s final.

Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly have presented their final episode of Strictly Come Dancing (Image: BBC)

Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman were supported by family and friends as they presented their last ever episode of Strictly Come Dancing on Saturday December 20. Although the pair will be seen on screens on Christmas Day for the festive special, which was pre-recorded on December 9, so this year’s grand final marked the end of the pair’s time on the BBC Saturday night show and, despite looking poised and polished, their body language betrayed their true feeling about the monumental occasion.

Tess’ husband Vernon Kay and their daughters could be seen beaming proudly and applauding in the audience. Celebrity psychic and body language expert Inbaal Honigman exclusively analysed the pair for Express.co.uk and she observed that they had underlying tension and anxiety. She said: “As Tess descends the curved staircase to make her entrance, her moves are long and wide; she wants to celebrate this moment. Those expansive moves show that she’s giving her all and wants to have a memorable evening,” she said.

Speaking on behalf of Covers.com, Inbaal continued: “However, when she stands with Claudia, her fingers pinch at one another, fidgeting nervously. She is more than a little tense. Claudia, meanwhile, walks down to the dancefloor using short, small moves, telling us that she’s anxious.

“As she stands and presents, her head jerks and her hand goes to her hair several times. The jerky, jumpy moves are an indication that Claudia is not her usual calm and collected self. She’s expecting the unexpected, perhaps suspecting that the team have a surprise for her before she’s set to leave the brand,” Inbaal said.

They walked towards each other in very different ways as they entered. Tess takes huge, expansive strides towards Claudia. This shows confidence; she feels that, next to Claudia, she can be completely herself, and she’s not afraid to take up space. Meanwhile, Claudia strides more carefully towards Tess, and she reaches out towards her co-host. For Claudia, this moment is a little nerve-racking, and she draws on Tess’s confidence,” Inbaal observed.

Claudia Winkleman paid tribute to her and Tess Daly’s “Keep Dancing” catchphrase on her jacket (Image: BBC)

Commenting on a “blink and you’ll miss it” embrace between the two women, Inbaal said: “As the two embrace, each of them pulls the other one closer. They both feel as if they’re stronger together. Claudia’s chin juts out, which shows pride. She’s proud of Tess’s success on the show and of her own achievements, too. Tess is feeling the moment, smiling heartily and genuinely and looking towards Claudia, sharing the experience with her. But Claudia isn’t feeling the moment; her smile is more subtle, and she looks away from Tess, as if reminiscing. Claudia is pulling her lips in, as if trying to suppress her smile. She’s thinking of her long history with Tess, on the show.”

The presenters made a joint announcement about their departure in October this year. Their replacements are yet to be revealed, but speculation is rife that Zoe Ball will be one of the new hosts after she quit her Saturday afternoon Radio 4 show after just eight months at the helm.