OPINION: The Strictly Come Dancing 2025 final had to be the most tear-filled episode in the BBC show’s history.

It’s safe to say it’s been one hell of a year for everyone involved in Strictly Come Dancing. Various scandals have emerged, contestants withdrew due to injury, and longtime hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman dropped the biggest bombshell of them all when they announced the 2025 series would be their last. It was a recipe for an emotional final, and there was not a dry eye in the ballroom as even the judges got teary-eyed at points, as well as the professional dancers and their celebrity partners throughout the final. While tears are often shed during the grand finale, this year’s event carried an unusually high level of sadness. Finalist Amber Davies and professional dancer Carlos Gu got particularly emotional throughout the night, causing the rest of the cast to sob alongside them.

Tess and Claudia were naturally emotional as it was their final time hosting Strictly Come Dancing – but the real reason for all of the tears runs far deeper in my opinion.

BBC fans may argue that everyone was sobbing because it’s the end of an era with the lovable Tess and Claudia presenting the show.

However, I feel that the show is not going to be renewed, and that’s the real reason for all the raw upset, which resonated with viewers watching at home as well.

I kept crying as the show unfolded, knowing in my heart that it wouldn’t be the same once Tess and Claudia left, as the once prestigious programme’s name had been tarnished so much over the years due to various allegations.

Tess and Claudia are smart women to jump ship before it inevitably sinks – but where will it leave the judges, the professional dancers and the crew?

Will they be able to salvage the show and pull in viewers by the million each week – or is it time to issue a statement declaring Strictly Come Dancing has been cancelled?

As heartbreaking as it is, it might be best to pull the plug on the ballroom competition before more scandals emerge and the public completely turns against it.

However, it would leave a huge glitterball-shaped hole in the BBC’s television schedule and be a hard show to replace.