Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman have Strictly pact

13 February 2019

Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman have a pact to keep doing 'Strictly Come Dancing'' together.

Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly

The presenters have fronted the show since 2014 following the departure of the late Sir Bruce Forsyth and have pledged that when one of them decides to leave, the other will follow as they can't imagine working with someone else.

Tess said: "We are confirmed to come back this year. She's my girl. How could I ever stand there without her? I would miss her terribly.

"I love her. She makes me so happy. Just looking into her eyes makes me laugh."

Claudia added: "We stay? We go? We do it together."

While the duo have signed on to front the upcoming 2019 series of the celebrity dance competition, they know they don't necessarily have jobs for life.

Claudia told The Sun newspaper: "I don't know. I mean, they might wake up and go, 'Let's give new people a chance', and I think that's absolutely fair enough.

"But while they're happy for us to turn up and wear sparkly stuff and, in my case, too much eyeliner, then thanks to them."

Tess - who has daughters Phoebe, 14, and nine-year-old Amber with husband Vernon Kay - feels "proud" that she and Claudia were the first female co-hosts to anchor a big Saturday evening entertainment show.

She said: "I feel so proud that we were first on a Saturday night. Now it feels quite normal.

"My eldest daughter is 14, she's looking at her GCSEs and thinking about the future, and I'm talking to her about not being limited by her sex in her career.

"I talk about what we've done and it feels great. Us two on a Saturday night is now a normal thing."

Chris Evans has recently revealed he plans to take part in this year's show, and the hosts are delighted he was so easy to persuade to compete.

Tess said: "I do love that Chris Evans has said he's doing it already, that's probably the earliest confirmation we've ever had in 'Strictly' history. He's a genuine fan."

Claudia added: "He came in the audience and he was like, 'Yes, sign me up'."