STRICTLY CHAO: Strictly organizers make a SH0CKING ANNOUNCEMENT to salvage the scandal-ridden show, which could attract Premier League legends and TV stars.

Strictly hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly are leaving the showCredit: PA

The current site at the Elstree Studios in Borehamwood, HertsCredit: Getty

Pro dancer Carlos Gu and Karen Carney on the showCredit: BBC
It’s a bold move that probably means many of the show’s team — who have seen most of the crises unfold during its time at Elstree Studios — won’t be heading north.

It all comes after the biggest departure of all. Hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman will take their final bow at Saturday’s live final and have just been presented with golden glitterballs to mark the bittersweet moment.

A TV insider said: “A shift to Salford would be seismic. It would also make sense on many levels, but mostly from a PR perspective.

“It’s a clear statement of intent from the Beeb, who want to draw a line under the show’s troubled time at Elstree.

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“There is a lingering sense of anguish that now seems to hover around the show and it’s one that bosses really want to dispel.

“With new hosts coming in to replace the departing Tess and Claudia, it’s the perfect time to introduce other big changes.

“And moving the show north — which for many people is the home of light entertainment — is a logical move in many ways.

Clean sweep

“Already, Strictly likes to make a big deal of its links to Blackpool, just down the road from Salford.

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“Most importantly, from a fan’s point of view, it could just safeguard Strictly’s future for years or decades to come.”

The clean break would mirror the corporation’s decision in 2006 to establish BBC North in Salford’s Media City, and the relocation of BBC Breakfast, Radio 5, sport and children’s TV followed in 2011 and 2012.

More than half the staff who worked on the shows in London refused to move to Salford, which then saw the BBC take on new employees.

Already, rumours are rife that current Strictly show boss Sarah James is poised to quit next year too.

It’s understood she was considering an exit in 2024 but didn’t want to leave at a time when the show was still reeling from a string of scandals.

As well as bullying claims made against Giovanni Pernice, by his dance partner Amanda Abbington, there was the dismissal of Graziano di Prima after he allegedly kicked and spat at Zara McDermott in 2023.

Then there was “Gropegate” involving Wynne Evans on last year’s show, followed by him getting the boot from the Strictly tour for making a lewd remark at the press launch.

This year’s show has been rocked by Tess and Claudia announcing their departure in October.

Their leaving is likely to have a bearing on whether Sarah quits too ­— and if she does leave, her role is likely to be filled by someone who would want to start afresh.

Meanwhile, the BBC’s Chief Content Officer, Kate Phillips, is said to be seriously contemplating relocating the jewel in their entertainment crown.

Yesterday an official spokeswoman for the BBC declined to respond to the specific question of whether they were considering relocating Strictly. But they did confirm that currently: “There are no plans to move Strictly.”

Negotiations are soon likely to start in earnest between the corporation and the government over the BBC’s licence fee charter.

Though there is still time as it doesn’t run out until the end of 2027.

Just signalling a potential move to Salford would be a massive gesture to those in power who increasingly believe that shifting TV production beyond the orbit of London and into the regions will create equality of opportunity.

BBC North in Salford’s Media CityCredit: Alamy
It’s a notion likely to hold particular appeal for Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, who was born and raised in neighbouring Manchester, and whose mother was a TV producer in the city at World in Action at Granada Studios.

Only last year Nandy said: “It should shame us all that television is one of the most centralised and exclusive industries in the UK, because who tells the story determines the story told.

“If you bus people in rather than recruit locally, stop it. Talent is everywhere. Opportunity is not.

“And if you’ve moved jobs and ­people and content, but the heads of departments and commissioners are all still in an office in London, do something about it.”

Massive project

There are practical benefits to a relocation to Salford too.

The series could move to Dock 10 at Media City, a complex of studios large enough to accommodate the show.

One in particular is not much smaller than the George Lucas stage currently used by Strictly at Elstree.

There is also a large reservoir of production staff already there, many of whom are believed to have worked on Strictly and other shows.

Already, everything from The Voice to Who Wants To Be A Millionaire are made at Dock 10.

Another insider said: “It would be a massive project, and would probably take at least two years to complete as the production at Elstree is huge and it would be a mammoth task to relocate it.”

In terms of signing celebrities for the show, it may also turn out to be an advantage.

Three soaps that casting agents regularly recruit from — Hollyoaks, Coronation Street and Emmerdale — are all based in the north.

Another plus point would be the audiences who would fill the studios during live broadcasts.

Crowds up north are known for being livelier and more enthusiastic than those in the south.

Although the move would be a big change, it wouldn’t be unprecedented either.

From 2004, when the show was launched, to 2012, Strictly was filmed inside BBC TV centre in West London.

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It moved to Elstree Studios in Borehamwood the following year where the corporation has leased the massive George Lucas stage to house the juggernaut production.

So doing the same again, wouldn’t be beyond the realms of possibility — particularly if they had more reason than ever to make the switch.

Big moves

A GROWING number of big shows have been moving out of London – for a variety of reasons.

For the first time this year Britain’s Got Talent stopped filming auditions in London and based them in Birmingham and Blackpool, where the audiences are much livelier.

MasterChef has just relocated to Birmingham as part of the BBC’s drive for more regional programming.

The Beeb has moved production of crime thriller Silent Witness to the West Midlands too.

Amanda Holden’s The Inner Circle quiz show is filmed in Glasgow.

While sexy BBC banking drama Industry may be set in the City, but much of it is filmed in Cardiff.