'I work with Claudia Winkleman on Strictly and she always shows true feelings off-camera'

Strictly Come Dancing winners Dianne Buswell and Chris McCausland said there is a side to presenter Claudia Winkleman that viewers don't get to see. The dancing duo spoke out about Claudia and Tess Daly, after the pair announced they will be departing from the programme next year.

The presenting duo have fronted the hit BBC show together for more than a decade, but revealed it was now time to pass on the baton. In a joint statement, they said: "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. We will cry when we say the last 'keep dancing' but we will continue to say it to each other.

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"Just possibly in tracksuit bottoms at home while holding some pizza."

Commenting on the news, Chris, who was the show's first-ever blind contestant, revealed why he believes he'd make a good replacement. Speaking on his and Dianne's Winning Isn't Everything podcast, the comedian said: "Claudia, she very rarely comments on what she sees, she doesn't really give an opinion when she's on camera.

"She comments on how they think it went and what the judges have said, not her own opinion, she says it off-camera before shoving a chocolate pretzel into your mouth so you can't answer back."

Laughing in agreement, Dianne replied: "It's so true, yes she does! And to be honest, she doesn't really know what she's looking for anyway, and half the time when she's up there she's not watching the dance, she's looking at her notes. So you're right there, Chris."

He continued: "So, I'd make an amazing Claudia, wouldn't I?".

Dianne chimed in: "I wouldn't mind being the new Tess because I feel like I'm very empathetic, and if it went wrong I'd probably tell them. I'd say, 'Well that was awkward, wasn't it?'".

Following the announcement of their departure, a host of well-known names have been put forward as possible replacements, with Bradley Walsh, Holly Willoughby, Alex Jones and Zoe Ball among the frontrunners.

A source told The Sun that discussions are "moving in a really positive direction" with Bradley and Alex, who are "both favourites to take over". The insider added: "They have been in the BBC's sights for some time."

Prior to confirming their exit, Claudia disclosed that she and Tess had agreed to leave the programme together. "Tess and I will leave at the same time," she told The Mirror.

"We've made that pact over pizza. We'll go together, whenever they're done with us."

Tess has presented the series since it began, initially alongside the late Bruce Forsyth, before being joined by Claudia, who previously hosted Strictly: It Takes Two.

For the time being, the duo will carry on presenting this series as nine dancing couples continue their fight for the Glitterball trophy.