Speaking to GB News this morning, former Strictly Come Dancing professional Kristina Rihanoff has described the departure of presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman as very sad for the show. She added that the programme’s golden era ended when Bruce Forsyth and Len Goodman left.
Rihanoff said: “It is very sad for the show to lose those wonderful two ladies. In my eight years on Strictly, it was always wonderful to have them around. The golden era of Strictly was kind of over when we lost Brucey and Len. There was always a lot of comfort being with Claudia upstairs. She was very sweet and always supportive, as was Tess. From my perspective as a dancer, you always felt really good around them. They were not judgmental, they were not judges, just very comforting. I really loved having them around.”
She added that the show now seemed more popular for scandals than dancing. “When I joined back in 2008 with John Sergeant, it was a show that gave people a platform to renew and boost their careers. Now it is all about scandals and wrongdoing.”
Rihanoff suggested a break could help refresh Strictly’s format. “They need to take a leaf out of Dancing with the Stars’ book and maybe go away for a season. That is exactly what they did: they missed one season, reshuffled the show, and came back with a better voting system and set. Even if you love something for a long time, you want a little change and something more exciting for people to watch. I think a break would give the show a boost.”
Asked about possible replacements for Tess and Claudia, Rihanoff said Zoe Ball and Ian Waite would be a strong duo. “Zoe and Ian have lovely chemistry. Ian is very much loved by the Strictly audience. He is charming, knowledgeable, and an ex-professional. For me, that is a really lovely pairing.”
She concluded by wishing the departing presenters well. “They are an amazing duo and I am sure they have other things planned.”