STRICTLY Come Dancing hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman have been given strict instructions for their final ever show.
The Strictly veterans are set to host their last ever finale of the BBC dancing competition on Saturday and they’ve been given strict instructions on how to behave during it.
The co-hosts waltz off for the last time after the series finale on Saturday, December 20 and given they’ve been involved in Strictly in some way for many years, it’s bound to be an emotional time.
However, Tess and Claudia have said that they’re not allowed to cry under any condition.
“I think it will be emotional, but of course it won’t be about us, it will be about the winners,” Claudia told host Fleur East on Strictly spin-off show, It Takes Two.
Tess interjected and added: “We’re not allowed to cry.”
Claudia agreed saying, “we’re not” and revealed that once the finale is done “they will hold each other very tight and cry”.
But while they might be fighting the urge to cry during the live finale, the waterworks may indeed come during a planned “best bits” segment.
A telly source said: “Tess and Claudia have shared so many special memories — there will not be a dry eye on the dancefloor with the special montage spanning over 20 years.
“It will be a heightened evening and hugely emotional for the cast and crew as they mark the end of an era.
“There will be a few other surprises in store for Tess and Claude’s goodbye moment, but it will also be a celebration of everything they’ve achieved on the show.”
The pair made the shock announcement they were leaving the BBC1 flagship entertainment programme in October, after making a secret pact nearly a year ago to quit together.
But they both admitted on Tuesday’s episode of It Takes Two, that they’ve barely had any time to think that their run on the show is coming to an end.
“I genuinely haven’t had time to think about it because we’ve been so into this series [and] so absorbed by such a buoyant series that all my focus is on that really, so I think it’s gonna be shock on the 20th,” Tess said, adding “I might get emotional.”
The Christmas Day special will be the final time viewers see Tess and Claudia but that will be filmed next week ahead of their last studio show.
Tess, 56, has been at the helm since Strictly began 21 years ago, with Claudia, 53, joining in 2014.
Claudia’s appearance on It Takes Two comes just hours after she received a MBE at Windsor Castle for services to broadcasting on Tuesday.
She was recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours alongside Tess and received her medal from King Charles at an official ceremony.
