ITV’s flagship hit I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! has long gone toe-to-toe with the BBC juggernaut Strictly Come Dancing, both fighting for ratings dominance during the same glittering autumn period. But this year, the ballroom giant suffered an unexpected shake-up when its iconic presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman confirmed that the current season would be their final.
And now, Ant McPartlin has cheekily twisted the knife.
During his Jungle Club after-show, Ant couldn’t resist poking fun at the rival broadcaster after a viewer suggested that Tess — whose husband Vernon Kay famously competed on I’m A Celebrity in 2020 — should join next year’s camp. Jumping at the idea, the 50-year-old presenter grinned:
“Tess Daly, that would be a good one… and she’ll be free.”
His comment immediately set the room laughing, with co-host Joel Dommett joking, “She’s not free until there’s a price!”
Ant and Declan Donnelly, who have fronted the ITV reality series for an extraordinary 25 years, now find themselves watching Strictly’s long-time frontwomen step aside after more than two decades on screen. Tess is currently preparing to close her 21-year chapter, while Claudia — who joined her at the helm in 2014 — is bowing out alongside her.
The pair announced their departure together in October, leaving a major question mark over who will take over next year. Claudia is already preparing for her new BBC chat show following the success of The Traitors, one of the broadcaster’s highest-rated programmes. Tess, however, has not yet confirmed her next move.
As the Strictly season nears its end, Tess has been reflecting on her emotional “lasts.” Sharing a collection of photos from Blackpool — the beloved home of the Strictly finals — she admitted that returning there has stirred up a flood of memories.
“We’re back in Blackpool for rehearsals ahead of tomorrow’s live show,” she wrote. “It’s made me look back on all the ‘last times’ as our time on the show comes to a close.”
She celebrated her years presenting alongside Bruce Forsyth and Claudia, the unforgettable performances, the loyal crowds, and even the tradition of fish and chips during every Blackpool visit.
“Blackpool holds such a special place in my heart… I’ve been looking back on some precious memories. Let’s go out with a bang, Blackpool!”
Meanwhile, Ant and Dec’s celebration of their own 25th series couldn’t have come at a more ironic moment — just as Strictly enters a new era of uncertainty.
