Craig Revel Horwood has paid a heartfelt tribute to Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman following the news that they are leaving Strictly Come Dancing.
The iconic presenting duo made history as the BBC’s first all-female hosting team, and last month they stunned fans by announcing that this series will be their last.
Speaking on Friday’s episode of The One Show, Craig shared his love for the pair as he reflected on their time working together.
Recalling his favourite memories with them, he said: “Well, I sort of love Claud’s because I’ve been working with Claudia ever since she was on It Takes Two.
‘And what I love about her was she knew absolutely nothing about dance.
‘And Tess I’m going to miss I’ve been with her for 21 years and she always represents for me Bruce as well.
Craig Revel Horwood has paid a heartfelt tribute to Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman following the news that they are leaving Strictly Come Dancing
The iconic presenting duo made history as the BBC ’s first all-female hosting team, and last month they stunned fans by announcing that this series will be their last
Speaking on Friday’s episode of The One Show, Craig shared his love for the pair as he reflected on their time working together
‘I wish them well I want them to go onto fabulous things. I love them both.’
Appearing emotional, he added: ‘Soon as I hear the music I’ll always see Brucie and I’ll always see Tess.’
It comes after Claudia revealed exactly how she and Tess made a pact to quit Strictly Come Dancing together.
Claudia, 53, and Tess, 56, will exit Strictly at the end of the current series, with their final show airing on Christmas Day during the show’s special.
They both had previously said how they made a pact to leave the show together, rather than either remaining and being paired with a new presenter.
Now, in a previous interview, Claudia shared exactly how they both came up with the idea of waltzing off the dance floor.
They hatched the plan to quit whilst they were at the top, enjoying a pizza together.
Speaking to The Mirror, Claudia refuted the suggestion fans wanted her and Tess on the show forever.
It comes after Claudia revealed exactly how she and Tess made a pact to quit Strictly Come Dancing together
She said: ‘I don’t think anybody would want that.
‘I am sure people watching would go “Can that small orange creature just shuffle off?”
‘Tess and I will leave at the same time. We made that pact over pizza. I had pepperoni.’
Speaking to the camera as they announced their Strictly exits, Claudia began: ‘There have been some rumblings and we want you to hear this from us.’
Tess chimed in: ‘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.’
‘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, pointing to Claudia: ‘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.’
As they announced their surprise news, both hosts said there had been ‘rumblings’ behind-the-scenes and wanted fans to hear the news from them first
The presenting pair penned an emotional message to their fans under the clip
Claudia continued: ‘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.’
The duo penned under the video: ‘We have loved working as a duo and hosting Strictly has been an absolute dream.
‘We were always going to leave together and now feels like the right time. We will have the greatest rest of this amazing series and we just want to say an enormous thank you to the BBC and to every single person who works on the show.
‘They’re the most brilliant team and we’ll miss them every day. We will cry when we say the last “keep dancing” but we will continue to say it to each other.
‘Just possibly in tracksuit bottoms at home while holding some pizza.’
Meanwhile, the Daily Mail revealed how Claudia’s solo chat show for the BBC will be made by the company that produces The Graham Norton Show.
So Television, the production company founded by Norton and business partner Graham Stuart, will be making Winkleman’s series, which telly chiefs believe could make her the new Terry Wogan.
The BBC are confident that the new, yet-to-be named Winkleman show can go on to enjoy huge ratings success, with the idea being it is broadcast when The Graham Norton Show is off air.
Traitors host Winkleman was widely praised for her performance, when she stood in for Norton earlier this year, when he was on a break from BBC work.
