EMOTIONS RUN HIGH… Vernon Kay finally addresses Tess Daly’s Strictly Come Dancing future after her tearful exit.
Vernon Kay has shared whether he and Tess Daly will continue to tune into Strictly Come Dancing after Tess was seen leaving as host of the show at the end of last year.
As fans of the BBC One dance programme know, the presenter and her co-host Claudia Winkleman announced in October last year that they would be stepping down from fronting the show at the end of the 2025 series, which at that time was at the mid-way point.
They issued a joint statement confirming their plans to depart the popular show together, saying it was the “right time” for them to bow out of the beloved programme, before hosting they were later seen hosting their last show live on December 20.
Now, Vernon has been quizzed on whether he – and Tess – will remain fans of the show as all eyes remain on who will be named the new hosts of Strictly. Speaking at to the Radio Times at the Radio Times Covers Party 2026, Vernon said that the couple have a holiday booked when the next series begins, but was sure to make it clear they’re still very much supporting the show even with Tess no longer on it.
On if he’ll still be tuning in, the BBC Radio 2 star confirmed: “Yeah, of course! It’s iconic, and it’s in our family’s DNA, it really is. So it holds a special place in both of our hearts and the kids as well.
“Phoebe and Amber absolutely love it, and we’re going to miss it. We’re going to miss it, but it’s still there. It’s not gone, it’s not vanished. We’ll still be watching, we’ll still be dialled in. We’ll still be in the Star Bar after the show and enjoying it because it is the best show on UK TV.”
The 2025 series final, which saw Karen Carney and Carlos Gu crowned Strictly champions, featured a number of tributes to Tess and Claudia, including from the Queen, as well as fans of the show. They were greeted by a standing ovation from the audience, which included Tess’ husband, as they opened the episode.
Shortly after the camera stopped rolling, Tess took to Instagram with a goodbye message, which came alongside a video featuring a compilation of clips from her and Claudia’s final time in the ballroom, starting with a clip of them waving at the camera. “So that’s a wrap. What an incredible Final – fitting for what, for me, has been an absolutely brilliant series.
“Strictly is a show that is made with love, where joy is the currency and the only agenda. That love is down to every single member of the brilliant team that makes it, because to none of them is it just a job. It is a gift, and it is truly treasured. I will be forever grateful for the unforgettable years I have spent sharing this magical show with you.
“I’ll miss the Strictly viewers, because they are the very best, the most loyal and supportive, and as passionate about the show as I have always been. It has been the most wonderful privilege to have shared it with you all for so many years. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the memories of a lifetime.”
