Strictly Come Dancing is said to be in ‘final talks’ with Gladiators host Bradley Walsh and The One Show’s Alex Jones to take over hosting duties on the BBC One show.

Last month, current hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly confirmed they would be stepping back from the show after its current series comes to an end.

Claudia, 53, and Tess, 56, have been presenting the show together since 2014, when The Traitors host took over from Bruce Forsyth.

Speculation has already begun as to who will take their place, with names including current Strictly contestant La Voix and It Takes Two’s Zoe Ball thrown into the mix.

But as BBC bosses get busy looking for two replacements for the much-loved pairing, it’s been claimed they already have their sights on Alex, 48, and Bradley, 65.

While Alex is best known for hosting The One Show since 2010, when she took over from Christine Lampard, Bradley is the face of ITV‘s The Chase, as well as co-host of the BBC’s Gladiators, alongside son Barney.

Strictly Come Dancing is said to be in ‘final talks’ with Gladiators host Bradley Walsh

The One Show’s Alex Jones is also said to have been approached and in talks to take over hosting duties on the BBC One show

TV insiders 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.

As well as being a Strictly fan, having interviewed its stars, the professional dancers and the judges on The One Show, Alex also took to the dance floor in 2011.

She and professional dance partner James Jordan reached the semi-final of the show before they were eliminated in fifth place.

It comes after it was revealed that ITV‘s former golden girl Holly Willoughby has been tipped to take over the BBC‘s flagship show.

Last month, current hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly confirmed they would be stepping back from the show after its current series comes to an end

ITV’s former golden girl Holly Willoughby has been tipped to take over the BBC’s flagship show alongside former Take Off co-host Bradley

If Holly does take the Strictly reins it’s thought bosses will reunite her with her close friend Bradley Walsh

Former BBC One Controller Peter Fincham claims the former star of Dancing On Ice and This Morning is being lined up to host Strictly.

Fincham has 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.’

If the ‘well-known channel controller’ is correct, it would herald a dramatic return for Holly, 44, who quit This Morning in 2023 after 14 years, following intense public scrutiny.

Earlier that year, her long-time co-presenter Phillip Schofield resigned after admitting that, before leaving his wife, he had carried on an extramarital affair with a young male co-worker and had lied about it to ITV’s management, his colleagues, lawyers, agents and friends and family.

Since then, Holly has hosted Celebrity Bear Hunt with Bear Grylls, on Netflix, but it was not commissioned for a second series.

ITV announced in March that Dancing On Ice would be ‘rested’ in 2026, and that there are currently no plans for another series, paving the way for Holly to take on the rival BBC show.

While Holly and Bradley are the frontrunners to take over from the all-female partnership of Claudia and Tess, Zoe Ball is also thought to be a name in the mix

She was first linked to the Strictly job by The Mail on Sunday in 2023. She is close to some of the corporation’s most senior executives courtesy of her husband Dan Baldwin, who produces major BBC programmes including Saturday night fixtures The Wheel and Gladiators.

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.

Whilst Holly and Bradley are the frontrunners to take over from the all-female partnership of Claudia and Tess, Zoe Ball is also thought to be a name in the mix.

Last week Zoe became the first major name to declare her interest, admitting the role would be ‘amazing’ – just two months after questioning her decision to quit her £950,000 Radio 2 Breakfast Show.

As well as hosting Strictly’s spin-off show It Takes Two for a decade, she competed on the show itself – finishing as runner-up in 2005 with professional dancer Ian Waite.

Strictly Come Dancing continues Saturday night at 6:25pm on BBC One and will stream on iPlayer.