Former BBC boss says Strictly should take break to ‘save show’s reputation’

A former BBC Head of Communications has recommended Strictly Come Dancing take a break in 2026 to save its reputation.

Sam Hodges, who was a coms chief at the BBC from 2011 to 2015, has taken to social media 20 years after he helped launch the ballroom dancing show to give his verdict on the show’s future following a turbulent few years.

The BBC flagship series has been at the centre of a number of controversies, with multiple bullying claims, drug use accusations, and two arrests on suspicion of rape shrouding the show.

Now with the shock departure of long-running co-hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, Hodges recommends the show take a leaf out of Glastonbury Festival’s book, as he calls for a fallow year in 2026 to reset and refresh the series.

Taking to LinkedIn, he wrote: ‘It’s 20+ years since I launched Strictly Come Dancing as an Assistant Publicist at the BBC. A non-priority new show with the working title Pro-Celebrity Come Dancing. No one knew the hit it would become.

‘For the first time though, I think it’s time to take a leaf out of Glastonbury’s book and consider a fallow year for 2026.

‘This series has clearly been tough on a whole host of fronts, but reputationally its biggest boost might well come from helping people realise what they’d miss, rather than chasing salvation by rushing into immediate contract talks with new producers, presenters, and cast.

‘Things rarely finish on a high in TV – more often an exhausted final series or a controversy that brings things to a sudden or crashing end.

‘Glastonbury’s fallow years increase demand for tickets rather than opening the door to competitors – they allow new energy to return to both the line-up and the land.

‘To save the show’s reputation, 2026 might be the year for the BBC and Strictly to do the same.’

However, not everyone agreed with Hodges’ views, as another communications expert commented: ‘I’m not sure I agree, but I do understand the sentiment.

‘I’ve only really come to Strictly in the last few years, and for me it’s simply been a lovely thing to watch. Warm, familiar TV and a chance to properly switch off once a week.’

It was previously reported that bosses were said to be considering pausing the show in the wake of a star’s arrest on suspicion of raping a woman after a BBC event.

The man, who cannot be named, was arrested in October. The victim was not a contestant or dancer on the BBC show, but the two met because of the man’s involvement in the programme.

In November, a source insisted to the Daily Mail that the show will go ahead in 2026, claiming: ‘It’s already been commissioned for 2026. And after that, there is no way it is going anywhere.’

They added that viewers could be inclined to cancel their TV licence if the show were to be axed.

‘If you take that away there is a huge risk they will stop paying for their licence, and that would be an absolute catastrophe,’ the source said.

Meanwhile, sources recently claimed to Daily Mail that producers are eyeing up drag performer La Voix for a role in the show.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, the source said: ‘Producers think she [La Voix] is the next Dame Edna Everage and are determined to find her a role on Strictly, whether that be on the main show or It Takes Two [the Strictly spin-off show].’

Presenting duo Claudia and Tess revealed their exit with a video on the latter’s Instagram, where they addressed ‘rumblings’ about them leaving.

‘We want you to hear this from us,’ said Celebrity Traitors host Claudia. 

‘After 21 wonderfully joyful years on Strictly, we have decided that the time is right to step aside and pass over the baton,’ Tess added.

Rumours are circulating over who their replacements could be, with names such as Radio 2 star Zoe Ball, Bradley Walsh, Alex Jones, Alan Carr, Amanda Holden, Holly Willoughby, Rylan Clark, and Alison Hammond all being floated around as contenders to take up the sought after slot.

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