- The BBC has shut down claims it is relocating Strictly Come Dancing to Salford’s Media City from its long-term home at Elstree Studios
- Longtime presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman are leaving, prompting speculation about their replacements
- The latest season comes to an end this Saturday with the Grand Finale
As Strictly Come Dancing prepares for a new era of the show, the BBC has pushed back on claims it will also move across the country.
The BBC reality series has faced several scandals over the past two decades, including complaints about pro-dancer behaviour, controversial contestants, and serious allegations of misconduct.
This season alone, fans came out in force against the casting of Apprentice star Thomas Skinner, who was voted out early in the competition.
As beloved co-hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly confirmed their departure, there was speculation it was planning to draw a line under its rocky past and offer the series a fresh slate.
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An insider claimed the bosses were considering saying goodbye to the Borehamwood-based location, Elstree Studios, which has been home to the iconic ballroom since 2013.
Instead, they would travel up to Media City in Salford, Greater Manchester, adding: ‘A shift to Salford would be seismic. It would also make sense on many levels, but mostly from a PR perspective.
‘It’s a clear statement of intent from the Beeb, who want to draw a line under the show’s troubled time at Elstree,’ a source told The Sun.
Now, a BBC spokesperson has told Metro: ‘There are no plans to move Strictly Come Dancing. Any suggestion otherwise is pure speculation.’
Of course, the show already has a special week at Blackpool Tower every season, which is a beloved aspect of the series every year and takes place up North.
After awarding the Glitterball Trophy on Saturday to the winning couple – between our finalists Karen Carney, George Clarke and Amber Davies – Tess and Claudia will be back for one last hurrah in this year’s Christmas special.
It is understood that the BBC is choosing between ten presenters to take over the coveted annual gig, including Bradley Walsh, Alex Jones and Alan Carr, with different pairs being tested for their onscreen chemistry.
Viewers have become convinced that media personality Zoe Ball could be a serious contender for the role after announcing her departure from her long-running Radio 2 show.
The latest season has also been home to plenty of firsts. EastEnders star Balvinder Sopal broke the record for the number of dance-offs she survived before eventually being eliminated after the semi-final.
Discussing going up against West End star Amber on It Takes Two, Balvinder said: ‘Going up against Amber, honestly, was game over for us. Because we’re not of that level, we’re not of that standard; I certainly wasn’t.’
Meanwhile, finalist Karen made her own history on the show as the first-ever footballer to make it to the very end.
Strictly Come Dancing finale airs Saturday, December 20 at 7pm on BBC One.
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