Strictly Come Dancing could be set for more big changes to go alongside Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman’s decision to step away from presenting duties at the end of the current series
Strictly bosses are reportedly eyeing up a big change for the scandal-hit show. Insiders claim the BBC dance contest could be about to up sticks and move north.
Currently, the long-running series is being filmed at a studio in Elstree, Hertfordshire. But reports suggest Kate Phillips, the BBC’s Chief Content Officer is “thinking seriously” about relocating to Media City in Salford, Greater Manchester.
It would see the show move to Dock 10, which is a purpose built studio complex in Media City. And it’s claimed any move would also see the show get a new boss with speculation rife over whether long-standing executive producer Sarah James is currently overseeing her final Strictly contest.
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A source told MailOnline: “She [Kate Phillips] is thinking about it seriously.” A TV insider also told The Sun: “A shift to Salford would be seismic.
“It would also make sense on many levels, but mostly from a PR perspective. It’s a clear statement of intent from the Beeb, who want to draw a line under the show’s troubled time at Elstree.
“There is a lingering sense of anguish that now seems to hover around the show and it’s one that bosses really want to dispel.”
And the source also claimed the move would be “logical in many ways”. However, a BBC spokesperson has since told the Mirror: “There are no plans to move Strictly Come Dancing, any suggestion is pure speculation.”
The show has been hit with a number of controversies and scandals in recent years. And there will also be new presenters from the next series after the announcement that Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman are stepping away from their duties.
After shocking fans with their statement part way through the current series, speculation quickly mounted about who will replace the dynamic duo. And professional dancer Ian Waite, who appeared on the show from 2004 until 2009, has shared who he thinks will be a great replacement for the pair.
Speaking to Reach about Tess and Claudia’s decision to leave the show on behalf of Zingo Bingo, Ian said: “I think it was a big, big shock for everybody that they decided to leave but when you’ve been doing something so long.
“Tess has been doing it for 21 years, it’s a long time to be doing any job. She might want to just move on to do different things and Claudia’s got Traitors, which is huge now So I can understand why they made the decision.
“I think they’ve been amazing but wouldn’t it be nice to have two men presenting this time just to spice it up? It’s been very much female presenter led.
“The main show and It Takes Two, so it would be nice to see some male presenters back in there just to balance it up. I think the public would like to see it.”
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