Strictly shake-up: will you accept Stacey Dooley and Kevin Clifton at 2/1 as hosts after 21 years?

Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly are bowing out together, ending a glittering double act and opening a door to a new era. Producers now have to balance continuity with risk, and bookmakers have already sketched a pecking order of candidates.

A changing of the guard at Strictly

Winkleman, who first co-hosted the main show in 2014 after years on It Takes Two, and Daly, who has fronted the programme since 2004, confirmed their joint exit. The decision ends a 21-year run for Daly and resets the chemistry that has anchored live results, pre-dance small talk and post-dance comfort for nervous celebrities.

Two prime-time pillars step aside at once, forcing the BBC to redefine the show’s tone, warmth and Saturday-night humour.

The timing matters. Casting hosts happens months before sequins and spray tan return, with screen tests and chemistry reads typically wrapped by late spring. That accelerates the market for potential replacements.

The early favourites: a champions’ return?

According to odds compiled for gaming brand Spin Genie, 2018 winners Stacey Dooley and Kevin Clifton sit at the front of the pack, each priced at 2/1. As a pair, they offer narrative heft: a champion journalist and a champion pro, with on- and off-screen rapport, are a ready-made duet for live television. Both remain close to the show’s ecosystem, and both understand the rhythm of Saturday-night adrenaline, from warm-up to results tension.

Why the champions appeal

• They know the ballroom: timing, camera positions and how to keep nervous contestants calm.
• They talk Strictly fluently: technique, judges’ shorthand and the show’s in-jokes.
• They already connect with the audience: both have hosted documentaries, live radio or spin-offs.
• They could split duties cleanly: one on-playful patter, one deep on dance chat.

Other contenders with momentum

Rylan Clark, again near the top of the market at 7/4, brings proven live chops and a stint on It Takes Two. He can riff with pros, reassure first-week celebs and reset the energy after heavy critiques. A Rylan-led partnership would skew high-energy and cheeky, a tonal bridge from the Winkleman years.

GK Barry sits level with Rylan at 7/4. The digital-first star has a large, young audience and fast wit. A bold choice would signal a push to broaden Strictly’s demographic on Saturday nights without losing families.

Alex Jones (4/1) and Gethin Jones (9/2) come with BBC live studio experience, warmth and reliability. Either could anchor the main show, with room for a zanier foil in the co-host seat. Fleur East at 5/2 mixes presenter polish and contestant empathy, earned through her own run and post-show broadcasting.

Among Strictly alumni, Janette Manrara (3/1) and Karen Hauer (7/2) offer deep dance intelligence. They can probe technique without draining the fun. Roman Kemp (6/1) would freshen the line-up with radio energy and quick ad-libs.

The right duo needs chemistry first, celebrity second. Live TV exposes gaps in timing, tone and trust in seconds.

What the odds really say

Fractional odds hint at probability but do not confirm any decision. A 2/1 price implies roughly a one-in-three chance. A 7/4 price nudges slightly higher, to about 36%. Short quotes often reflect momentum and publicity rather than signed contracts.

Prices can move with schedule changes, availability and screen tests. Viewers should treat the market as a temperature check, not a promise. The BBC will run auditions, trial autocue reads, and on-set walkthroughs before leaders emerge.

What the BBC will weigh

• Live stamina: two hours of television, heavy ad-libbing and post-result calm.
• Family tone: safe for teatime, still witty for the adults on the sofa.
• Chemistry with judges: playful tension without stepping on verdicts.
• Contestant care: keeping first-timers relaxed without dulling competitive edge.
• Broadcast versatility: handling musicals week, theme chaos and unpredictable injuries.

How the format could change

The corporation could stick with a dual-host set-up, echoing the Forsyth-to-Winkleman transition. A champions-plus-presenter pairing might offer the best of both worlds: expert chat in the Clauditorium and breezy set-piece links on the floor. Another route would rotate a backstage reporter, giving space to alumni who thrive in short interviews while a steadier anchor steers the main script.

Producers may also tweak pacing. Longer pre-dance interviews could shrink so routines breathe, while post-dance analysis expands for technique fans. Expect a sharper handover to It Takes Two, with the spin-off tasked to deepen training-room stories during the week.

Timeline and what viewers can expect

Announcements often land before the summer launch shoot. That window gives wardrobe time to build a look and rehearsals time to bed in catchphrases. If the BBC shifts to an anchor-plus-analyst model, the network could run informal screen tests on daytime or radio slots first. Watch for subtle signs: stand-in appearances, guest hosting on live events, or cross-appearances on BBC One entertainment programmes.

For fans: making sense of the numbers and the risks

To translate betting into something concrete, convert fractional odds into implied probability: probability equals denominator divided by numerator plus denominator. At 3/1, that’s 1 divided by 3+1, or 25%. These figures do not include the bookmaker’s margin and rarely reflect internal BBC preferences.

There is a creative risk in replacing two presenters at once: the show could lose its easy rhythm. The advantage is a clean slate that might lift energy after two decades. Alumni bring built-in authority on technique; mainstream presenters bring calm and continuity for casual viewers. A mixed duo can merge both strengths, and that’s where the market’s leading names cluster.