Bradley Walsh Bows Out as Strictly Host

has appeared to have taken himself out of the running to be the new host of Come Dancing, after announcing he's going to be on tour throughout September.

The TV presenter, 65, was said to be one of producers' favourites to replace  and , who stepped back from the show last year.

While speculation went into overdrive last month after it was alleged the actor had been for a screen test at the BBC, while filming for his quiz show, The Chase, was reportedly put on pause for 'at least a year'.

However, even without The Chase on his roster, Bradley already has an action-packed schedule, as he also hosts Gladiators, Blankety Blank and Egypt’s Cosmic Code for Sky History.

And now he has seemingly ruled himself out once and for all after announcing the autumn dates for The Prat Pack’s Back reunion tour.

Bradley will be joining pals Brian Conley, Joe Pasquale and Shane Richie onstage for 17 shows across the UK, beginning on September 2 in Edinburgh and not wrapping up until September 26, at the London Palladium.

This would likely clash with Strictly filming, with the show usually kicking off in the middle of September, and the hosts needed to be around for rehearsals, promo and pre-recorded shoots beforehand. 

'Bradley’s announcement looks to be the surest sign yet he’s not the new Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman,' a source pointed out to The Sun.

'The Prat Pack perform as a foursome so there’s no chance Bradley can be covered for clashes, and by the same token he would be needed by the for most of September for pre-records and Press.

'There are just four days off on the tour. It’s unlikely it would have been unveiled this week, with tickets put on sale, if a Strictly update announcing Bradley as host was imminent.'

Strictly bosses have now confirmed the professional dancers that will be returning for the new series, after a string of stars were axed in a brutal cast cull.

In recent months , , 43, Michelle Tsiakkas, 30, , 36, and Gorka Marquez, 35, have all been given the boot.

But the dancers that will be back on the dancefloor later this year have now been announced, and they include Dianne Buswell, who competed on the show last year while pregnant with her first child, and gave birth to son Bowden in March.

Amy Dowden will also be back on the show, after her stint on last year's run came to an early end, when she and Thomas Skinner were the first pair to be eliminated. 

Also set to return are: Julian Caillon, Katya Jones, Neil Jones, , Jowita Przystał, , Aljaž Škorjanec, Alexis Warr, , Nancy Xu, and Vito Coppola.

Bosses also revealed that there will be brand new professional dancers joining the line-up in 2026, while judges , Motsi Mabuse, and Head Judge  are also set to return.

Bosses also revealed that there will be brand new professional dancers joining the line-up in 2026, while judges Craig Revel Horwood , Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke and Head Judge Shirley Ballas are also set to return (pictured)