Tess Daly breaks down in tears and hugs emotional co-host Claudia Winkleman during their last ever Strictly rehearsals ahead of the pair exiting the show after 21 years

December 20, 2025

Tess Daly and co-host Claudia Winkleman broke down in tears during their final rehearsals ahead of Saturday’s grand final.

Tess, 56, and Claudia, 53, announced earlier in the series they would be stepping down after the Christmas special, which was prerecorded earlier this month.

Taking to her Instagram ahead of the live finale, Tess shared an emotional clip as she rehearsed alongside Claudia.

During the video the pair could be seen receiving hugs and gifts from crew as they practiced their lines in the ballroom.

In one scene, Tess addressed the gathered crew as she said: ‘And sharing it with all of you. I swear I love all of you because it’s felt like we’ve shared part of our lives, our children and everything.’

‘So thank you for that,’ she concluded as she was given a round of applause while a producer was seen comforting her and Claudia.

Tess Daly and co-host Claudia Winkleman broke down in tears during their final rehearsals ahead of Saturday’s grand final

Taking to her Instagram ahead of the live finale, Tess shared an emotional clip as she rehearsed alongside Claudia

During the video the pair could be seen receiving hugs and gifts from crew as they practiced their lines in the ballroom

Tess captioned the clip: ‘Not even live and cried and hugged more than I can count. Nearly final time, good luck to our couples tonight, we’re rooting for you! Let’s go out with a bang (and maybe another tear or two).’

In a joint video shared to Instagram announcing their exits in October, the duo said the time had come to ‘pass over the baton’ as they shared their gratitude for being able to take part in the ‘amazing show.’

Tess has fronted the show for a mammoth 21 years and 216 days, and was awarded a Guinness World Record for the longest-serving host of the same dance competition earlier this week.

The host as been part of the series since its very first episode back in 2004 where she presented alongside the late Bruce Forsyth.

Sir Bruce – who died in 2017 – starred alongside her until his retirement in 2013, when Claudia then took over.

As they announced their decision to step down in an Instagram post, Claudia began: ‘There have been some rumblings and we want you to hear this from us.’

Tess continued: ‘We have news, after 21 wonderfully joyful years on Strictly, we have decided that the time is right to step aside and pass over the baton.’

Tess has fronted the show for a mammoth 21 years and 216 days, and was awarded a Guinness World Record for the longest-serving host of the same dance competition earlier this week

In a joint video shared to Instagram announcing their exits in October, the duo said the time had come to ‘pass over the baton’

‘The very sparkly baton!’ Claudia laughed, before turning to her co-star and pal to add: ‘You’ve been here since the beginning.’

Tess replied: ‘With Bruce, lovely Bruce [Forsyth], and that was over two decades ago but a lot of the time has been with you.

‘It’s been a huge part of our lives since our children were literally babes in arms, and now they’re adults, and I think genuinely we have cherished every second.’

Claudia concluded: ‘We have, we’re so lucky to have been part of this amazing show and we just want to thank the Strictly team, because Strictly is the people who make it.’

Elsewhere, as all of this series’ contestants took their seats in the audience, missing from Saturday’s show was Thomas Skinner, who became the first celebrity to be voted off back in October.

Earlier in the day, the Apprentice star, 34, broke his silence on his early exit and said he was ‘seeking legal advice’ after he claimed ‘BBC bosses rigged official voting figures.’

Tom had already been deemed a controversial signing due to his outspoken Right-wing views.

He is now said to be convinced that he can prove he received a larger share of the public vote, which should have saved him from the dance off.

Sources revealed on Thursday that Thomas is taking legal action against the BBC after claiming bosses ‘rigged’ the public vote to boot him off the show.

A BBC spokesman said: ‘Strictly Come Dancing’s public vote is robust and independently overseen and verified to ensure complete accuracy.’