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- Strictly Come Dancing to not air in 2026 is now 10/1 with Ladbrokes amid growing uncertainty around host replacements.
- Fleur East (2/1) and Rylan Clark (5/2) lead the market to co-host the next series following Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman’s departure.
- BBC yet to confirm replacements, raising concerns that the series may take a one-year hiatus
Strictly Come Dancing 2026 Uncertain As BBC Faces Host Crisis
The BBC’s flagship reality series Strictly Come Dancing could be heading for an unexpected pause in 2026, according to new betting odds released by Ladbrokes this week.
After long-time presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman announced their exit at the end of the last series, speculation has ramped up over who will take over and whether the show will go ahead at all.
With no hosts officially named and production planning under pressure, Ladbrokes are now offering odds of 10/1 that Strictly won’t air in 2026.
The potential gap year would mirror ITV’s decision to rest Celebrity Big Brother in 2025, suggesting that even the most popular TV formats are not immune from scheduling pauses, especially in the wake of high-profile departures.
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Strictly Come Dancing Not to Air in 2026? Ladbrokes Offer 10/1
While still unlikely, the fact that a market even exists for Strictly to skip a year reflects growing uncertainty at the BBC.
| Special Market | Odds | Implied Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Strictly NOT to air in 2026 | 10/1 | 9.1% |
Who Will Host Strictly 2026? Fleur and Rylan Lead the Betting
Attention has naturally turned to the presenter market, with a number of fan favourites and BBC regulars priced up to replace the outgoing duo.
Fleur East, who currently fronts It Takes Two, is the 2/1 favourite, followed closely by Rylan Clark at 5/2, who has long been linked to a bigger primetime slot after his success across BBC and Channel 4 formats.
| Next Strictly Host | Odds | Implied Probability |
|---|---|---|
| Fleur East | 2/1 | 33.3% |
| Rylan Clark | 5/2 | 28.6% |
| Hannah Waddingham | 7/2 | 22.2% |
| Zoe Ball | 4/1 | 20.0% |
| Janette Manrara | 4/1 | 20.0% |
| Holly Willoughby | 11/2 | 15.4% |
| Anton Du Beke | 6/1 | 14.3% |
| Stacey Dooley | 8/1 | 11.1% |
| Rochelle Humes | 8/1 | 11.1% |
| Alesha Dixon | 8/1 | 11.1% |
| Roman Kemp | 8/1 | 11.1% |
BBC Faces Scheduling Deadline
The BBC has not yet announced when or how they will confirm the new hosting lineup, but with filming and promotional schedules usually beginning mid-summer, any delay in decision-making could push production timelines too far making a break year increasingly feasible.
Fan forums have speculated that a rotating guest host format could be trialled, but no such format change has been confirmed.
Until then, market activity around Strictly’s 2026 return is expected to remain fluid.
What the expert says...
Where To Bet on Strictly Specials
Entertainment betting markets continue to grow in popularity, and with high-profile reality shows like Strictly, punters enjoy a mix of media insight, fan speculation and surprise outcomes.
You can find Strictly Come Dancing betting specials at Ladbrokes, who continue to lead in reality TV odds.
Explore the best entertainment betting sites at OLBG, with a full list of bookmakers to bet with.
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