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Claudia Winkleman on future Strictly exit: 'Tess Daly and I will go together'

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 22:  Tess Daly (L) and Claudia Winkleman attend the National Television Awards held at The O2 Arena on January 22, 2019 in London, England.  (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images)
Tess Daly (L) and Claudia Winkleman attend the National Television Awards held at The O2 Arena on January 22, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images)

Strictly Come Dancing co-host Claudia Winkleman has made a Thelma and Louise style pact with Tess Daly to leave the show together.

The pair have hosted the show as a double team since Winkleman replaced TV legend Sir Bruce Forsyth in 2014. Forsyth had hosted alongside Daly since the show’s inception in 2004, but stepped aside due to ill-health, before he died in 2017.

With big boots to fill, Winkleman moved over from Strictly spin-off show It Takes Two, and has proved popular with audiences, and apparently, her co-host Daly.

Read more: Craig Revel Horwood dims Strictly Blackpool lights by refusing to give Karim Zeroual's 'hairpiece-worthy' dance top marks

Speaking to The Mirror, the 47-year-old said: “Tess and I will leave at the same time. We’ve made that pact over pizza. We’ll go together whenever they’re done with us.

“Even if they phoned me now and said ‘You’re done’, I’d still think I have had the best career possible.”

Asked about their relationship and her Strictly future while talking to The Express earlier this year, Daly said: “Claudia’s my mate, I’ve known her for years and years - we grew up together on TV, it feels like that.

LONDON - JUNE 03:  (EMBARGOED FOR PUBLICATION IN UK TABLOID NEWSPAPERS UNTIL 48 HOURS AFTER CREATE DATE AND TIME)  Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly attend the Glamour Woman Of The Year Awards, at Berkeley Square on June 3, 2008 in London, England.  (Photo by Dave M. Benett/Getty Images)
Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly attend the Glamour Woman Of The Year Awards, at Berkeley Square on June 3, 2008 in London, England. (Photo by Dave M. Benett/Getty Images)

“I hope to present the show as long as I can. I absolutely love it and the excitement never fades because each year it feels brand new because of the new cast.

“There’s new adventures to be had on the dance floor and it’s completely unpredictable what will happen and, for that reason, it’s always thrilling. It never gets old.”

Read more: Strictly at Blackpool: King of Ballroom Anton du Beke gets his first 10s in 17 series of the show

However, Winkleman isn’t the only Strictly star who has their exit from the long-running dance show on their mind.

LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 10:  Anton du Beke attends the TV Choice Awards at The Dorchester on September 10, 2018 in London, England.  (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)
Anton du Beke attends the TV Choice Awards at The Dorchester on September 10, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)

Veteran professional Anton du Beke has revealed he fears each series could be his final one.

“I’m the luckiest guy in the world,” the 53-year-old said. “I’m walking through fields of gold. But it doesn’t mean I don’t worry.

“I work in a peculiar business called show and you always think it might end tomorrow.”