Strictly pros share honest reaction as Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman quit

The stars of Strictly Come Dancing have reacted to the shock exit of presenters Tess Daly, 56, and Claudia Winkleman, 53. The pair issued a joint statement on Thursday October 23 confirming this would be their final season on the show and they would bow out after the final on Saturday December 20. Posting a video to Instagram they revealed they were both leaving the BBC flagship show.

Amy Dowden, 35, who was the first pro dancer to exit this year's show with her celebrity partner, the Apprentice star Thomas Skinner,admitted she was "gutted" by the news commenting on the post: "Nooooo, absolutely gutted! Our beautiful Strictly queens! Thank you, from being a fan these past 21 years to joining the show you have both brought so much joy, elegance, fun and pure brilliant entertainment to the nation! Thank you! Going to miss you both so much! Welsh love always xxxx."

Oti Mabuse, who won the show twice as a pro dancer with partners Kelvin Fletcher and Bill Bailey before exiting in 2022 described the news as "devastating".

The 35-year-old mum of one, who has returned to the show as a behind the scenes choreographer wrote: "Wow! How devastating. You two have been incredible to work with - thank you so much for all the beautiful memories, for representing females presenters, being iconic, the laughs and years of family you've given all us. From the beginning you were the highlight of our weekends! Wish you both luck - I will miss you so much!!!"

Dancer Karen Hauer, 43, who is paired with Gladiators star Harry Aikines-Aryeetey, aka Nitro, in this year's competition simply wrote: "I love you both so much. Powerhouse duo."

Jowita Pryzstal, who was eliminated second this year with her partner Ross King, shared: "Gutted. The best duo ! We will miss you so much, thank you for always being there for us. Wish you all the best x."

Meanwhile Nancy Xu, who is one of the professional dancers without a pro partner this year, commented: "I'm so grateful that came to this show and worked with the most talented in the business! It wouldn't be the same without both of you! Gonna miss you both so very much."

Tess, who has been on the show since the very first episode in 2004, and Claudia, who took over as co-host in 2014 following the exit of veteran host Bruce Forsythe, commented on their joint video: "We have loved working as a duo and hosting Strictly has been an absolute dream. We were always going to leave together and now feels like the right time.

"We will have the greatest rest of this amazing series and we just want to say an enormous thank you to the BBC and to every single person who works on the show.

"They're the most brilliant team and we'll miss them every day. We will cry when we say the last 'keep dancing' but we will continue to say it to each other. Just possibly in tracksuit bottoms at home while holding some pizza. Tess & Claud."