Bradley Walsh admits presenting Strictly would 'ruin his weekend' as he finally addresses hosting rumours
'Keep dancing! I’m just trying to practice…,' he teased
The Chase star Bradley Walsh has joined Anton Du Beke in responding to reports about the Strictly Come Dancing hosting job.
Earlier today (December 19), Anton appeared on This Morning and said that presenting the BBC dance show could be his “next step”. Bradders, meanwhile, has quipped that he’s been practising the show’s “keep dancing” catchphrase!
So who’ll take over from Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman after they announced they were leaving the series last month? While many names have been suggested to be waltzing into Saturday night’s glitziest gigs, 65-year-old Bradley is one of the frontrunners.
Now, The Chase presenter is keen to set the record straight on whether he will be taking the helm.
Bradley Walsh on whether he’ll host Strictly Come Dancing
Appearing on Scott Mills’ BBC Radio Two Breakfast Show, fellow guest Denise Welch quizzed Bradders on whether rumours he had auditioned for the plum Strictly role were true.
“Presenting Strictly would ruin the weekend!” he replied, explaining he spends his winter weekends watching football and ITV’s I’m a Celebrity….
“Fridays and Saturdays… I think it’s a big old commitment,” Bradley continued.
However, actress and Loose Women Denise was doubtful whether Bradley sincerely meant his denial.
“Because he’s got that twinkle, I never believe Bradley Walsh, whatever he says,” she told Scott. “It could be a long-winded way of saying he’s doing it.”
Scott agreed and quipped: “He did tell one of the [staff] he’s doing it with Alex Jones…”
Bradley continued to play along, laughing: “I’m seeing [Alex] today because I’m doing The One Show.”
He then teased: “Keep dancing! I’m just trying to practice…”
Despite rumours that BBC bosses are holding ‘chemistry tests’ to see who can replace Tess and Claudia, Bradley said he knows nothing about it.
“I have absolutely no idea,” he said, before adding he has watched some of this year’s Strictly couples performing.
“The Chase is filmed in the next room,” Bradley continued. “On a Friday, I can walk next door and have a sneak look at rehearsals.”
Which celebrities are in the running to host Strictly?
Reports suggest that Alan Carr, Rylan Clark, Zoe Ball and ex-This Morning host Holly Willoughby are all in the running. However, one ex-pro dancer reckons that employing someone without knowledge of the dancing would could “ruin” the show.
Meanwhile, the BBC has denied any decisions have been made.
Speaking on The Rest Is Entertainment podcast, BBC Chief Content Officer Kate Phillips said: “The production team, BBC Studios, and Executive Producer Sarah James and her team are concentrating on getting two shows out a week. We haven’t got time at the moment to start doing any screen tests or chemistry testing.
“I don’t think we’ll really be looking at it until the New Year. We want to make sure we deliver a great Strictly series.”
When is the Strictly final on?
The latest series of Strictly Come Dancing draws to a close this weekend. Saturday night’s programme (December 20) will be the final time viewers see Tess and Claudia, who have co-hosted the programme for 11 years, at the helm.
However, the pair will also host Strictly’s annual Christmas special, which has already been pre-recorded.
Finalists Amber Davies, George Clarke and Karen Carney are all in with a chance of lifting the all-important Glitterball Trophy.
Strictly Come Dancing concludes Saturday (December 20) at 7pm on BBC One and BBC iPlayer
Read more: Strictly finalist George Clarke supported amid ‘hardest week’
