Dermot O’Leary has addressed speculation that he could replace Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman as the new host of Strictly Come Dancing.
The This Morning star, 52, has been among a long list of names rumoured to be in talks to take over the coveted BBC show, after Tess and Claudia announced last month they would be stepping down at the end of the series.
Dermot was the long-running host of Strictly’s biggest rival, The X Factor, but the show was shelved by ITV in 2018 after a decline in ratings.
And the presenter has now insisted he’s not in talks to join Strictly, joking it’s a move that would enrage his former boss, Simon Cowell.
Dermot currently hosts This Morning on Fridays and during school holidays alongside Alison Hammond, and has fronted a Saturday show on BBC Radio 2 since 20104.
Speaking during an appearance on Ireland’s The Six O’Clock Show, Dermot was asked by hosts Brian Dowling and Katja Mia whether he’d been approached by BBC bosses.
Dermot O’Leary has addressed speculation that he could replace Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman as the new host of Strictly Come Dancing
The This Morning star has been among names rumoured to be in talks to take over the BBC show, after Tess and Claudia announced last month they would be stepping down
Turning dramatically to the camera and simple asked ‘confirm or deny?’ he simply said: ‘Deny.’
The presenter then added: ‘You know, being an X Factor kid, that’s like Julia Roberts in Sleeping With The Enemy.’
As Brian said: ‘Simon Cowell would not allow that!’ Dermot added: ‘Even though the show’s not on TV anymore, he’d still hunt me down!’
Dermot presented The X Factor from 2008 until 2014, and while he was replaced by Olly Murs and Caroline Flack the following year, he returned in 2016.
Last week ITV’s former golden girl Holly Willoughby and BBC favourite Alex Jones were both tipped to take over the Strictly Come Dancing presenting job.
Former BBC One Controller Peter Fincham claimed Holly, the former host of Dancing On Ice and This Morning, is being lined up to host the BBC’s flagship show after Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly announced their departure at the end of this series.
Fincham revealed all to the Daily Mail’s Richard Eden after hearing the news from a top industry insider.
‘My hairdresser also cuts the hair of a well-known channel controller,’ Fincham has spilled. ‘What’s said in Harry’s the hairdresser stays in Harry’s. But he says with great confidence that Holly Willoughby will take over.’
Dermot was the long-running host of Strictly’s biggest rival, The X Factor, but the show was shelved by ITV in 2018
The presenter insisted he’s not in talks to join Strictly, joking it’s a move that would enrage his former boss, Simon Cowell
Dermot currently hosts This Morning on Fridays and during the school holidays alongside Alison Hammond, and has fronted a Saturday show on BBC Radio 2 since 2004
If the ‘well-known channel controller’ is correct, it would herald a dramatic return for Holly who quit This Morning in 2023 after 14 years, following intense public scrutiny.
If Holly does take the Strictly reins it’s thought bosses will reunite her with her close friend Bradley Walsh.
The duo did a pilot back in 2019, Take Off With Holly & Bradley. A series was commissioned but was never made due to Covid.
They also worked together on ITV sports comedy panel game show Play To The Whistle which ran for two years from 2015.
Bradley is one of the biggest names in TV, hosting iconic quiz show The Chase as well as the reboot of BBC’s Gladiators with his son Barney.
And it’s thought his popularity with the older viewership of his quiz shows and the younger Gladiators demographic is the main draw for Strictly bosses.
But in a further twist to the tail, other insiders have claimed Bradley is being lined up to host alongside Alex.
TV insiders have revealed that talks are already taking place for the duo to appear in 2026.
A source told The Sun: ‘Alex and Bradley are both the favourites to take over from Tess and Claudia… they have been in the BBC’s sights for some time.
‘Bradley and Alex are both seen as accomplished broadcasters. He brings the wisecracks, and Alex is the calm head who knows how to handle live situations after 15 years of co-hosting The One Show.
‘Alex is a massive fan of Strictly, too, so this would be the dream gig for her.’
The insider confirmed that ‘nothing is set in stone yet’, but that discussions involving the pair had been ‘moving in a really positive direction’ so far.
Sources have also told Daily Mail that following his hugely successful run on Celebrity Traitors, Alan Carr has been thrown into the ring as a possible contender.
An insider said: ‘He has got to be up there with the BBC to get a huge new role. Wink, wink, nudge, nudge, Strictly.’
