Vernon Kay snaps as he 'names' himself as wife Tess Daly's Strictly Come Dancing replacement
The constant rumours about who'll replace Tess and Claudia is doing Vernon's head in!
Vernon Kay has had enough of the rumours surrounding next year’s Strictly Come Dancing hosts, telling his radio pal Scott Mills that the constant chatter about who’ll replace his wife Tess Daly ‘does his head in’.
Tess, who has hosted the show for 21 years, announced her departure back in October, along with co-host Claudia Winkleman. In a joint statement, the pair said it “feels the right time” to exit, with Tess specifically wanting to spend more time with her family.
Naturally, her potential replacement has been a hot topic of conversation. But one person who’s tired of it all is Tess’ husband, Vernon Kay. So much so, he’s snapped and jokingly told his Radio 2 listeners that he’s taking over!
Vernon Kay on replacement claims
This year’s Strictly has been full of departures, with La Voix being the latest to leave after an ankle injury. However, in conversation with Vernon on Radio 2, Scott Mills kicked off the Strictly debate by revealing that he was puzzled by La Voix’s extended send-off.
“Terrible news about the ankle, but who gets a send-off like that on Strictly?” he asked. “Normally, you have to dance awkwardly with your partner, and it’s not rehearsed. And the band sings I’ve Had The Time Of My Life and that’s the end of that.”
To which Vernon replied: “It’s hilarious really, since Tess and Claud announced that they will be leaving all the dentist, doctors and reception magazines are all saying: ‘It’s going to be this person, it’s going to be that person.’
“Let me just say this for the record, and I know a lot of people listen to his because we get quoted a lot of times…”
He then asked Scott: “Do you honestly think that the people at Strictly Come Dancing, mid-series, are going to have a roundtable about who is going to host it next year?”
To which the former Strictly contestant replied: “No, I don’t think that.” “Sometimes common sense when you put your fingers to the keyboard makes a big difference,” Vernon added.
‘I’ll tell you who it is’
On the possibility of him replacing his wife, Vernon quipped: “I tell you who it is, it’s me and Rylan [Clark]. There you go, done, simple.”
When Scott noted that the producers are probably focused on the current series, Vernon agreed. He said: “It’s not even finished, as if they’ve got time! They’ve got a Christmas special to organise, just behave yourselves! Wind your necks in, it does my head in.”
So who will replace Tess on Strictly?
Several stars are in the frame to replace Tess for Strictly 2026. According to bookies, Vernon is actually a 25/1 shot at taking over from his wife.
More likely, however, is Roman Kemp. He has a 3/1 chance of getting the gig. Holly Willoughby, who is reportedly planning a TV comeback after quitting This Morning, has odds of 4/1 to replace Tess.
However, Kate Phillips, the BBC’s Chief Content Officer, recently confirmed that no replacement will be appointed until next year.
Speaking on The Rest Is Entertainment podcast, she explained: “In terms of the process, the production team, BBC Studios and Sarah James [Executive Producer], her team and all these great people who make it, they are now concentrating on getting two shows out a week.
“So 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 because we want to make sure we deliver a great Strictly series.”
