Alan Carr tipped to replace Tess or Claudia on Strictly Come Dancing by former show star
Natasha Rigler | 3:13pm Tue 28 Oct | Updated 3:55pm Tue 28 OctAlan Carr has been touted as a good replacement for either Tess Daly or Claudia Winkleman when they leave Strictly Come Dancing.
The Chatty Man, who is currently entertaining viewers of The Celebrity Traitors in their droves, has been suggested for the job by a former Strictly star.
Vincent Simone, who is an ex professional dancer on the BBC show, would love to see Alan at the helm. He has also tipped Julian Clary as a good co-star for Alan.
Alan Carr ‘for Strictly Come Dancing’
Speaking exclusively to TVGuide in connection with Paddy Power, Vincent said: “People will probably want the same – an all-male or all-female female duo, ideally familiar BBC faces.
“Maybe someone like Alan Carr or Julian Clary could bring that fun spark, especially if they want to keep it light-hearted. Personally, I prefer experienced presenters and people that feel right to the show, than total newcomers.”
Tess and Claudia shocked Strictly Come Dancing fans last week when they announced they are leaving the BBC show. Tess has hosted Strictly since the start in 2004. Claudia, meanwhile, came in following Bruce Forsyth’s retirement in 2014.
Bookmakers have been busy sharing odds on who could fill Tess and Claudia’s shoes next year. SportsCasting’s Shane Orton said: “Following Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman’s announcement that they’re stepping down from Strictly Come Dancing, attention has quickly turned to who might take their place.
“Roman Kemp leads the early betting at 3/1, with Holly Willoughby close behind at 4/1. Both are established live TV favourites who could bring a fresh energy to the ballroom.”
On Sunday, retired footballer Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and his pro, Lauren Oakley, left Strictly. It came following a dance-off with Amber Davies and Nikita Kuzmin.
The judges admitted it was a shock to see both Jimmy and West End star Amber in the dance-off. Amber had even finished Saturday night in second place on the leaderboard.
Vincent has reflected on his time in the Strictly ballroom and says he can relate to Nikita. He told us: “When I was paired with Rachel Stevens and Louisa Lytton, we found the same thing – people with real ability sometimes don’t get the votes. Especially if they’re attractive young women.
“In my opinion, I’ve noticed a pattern on Strictly where the audience, mostly female, tends to vote more for the male celebrities. Even Emma Bunton ended up in the bottom two when she was one of the best dancers that year. It’s just the way it goes.”
Strictly Come Dancing: Halloween Week
This weekend will be a spooky Strictly special thanks to a Halloween Week theme. The celebrities have all been busy practicing brand new routines in preparation for it.
But Vincent isn’t a fan. He admits: “Next week is Halloween Week – another theme! The costumes and songs will all be spooky and dramatic, which again takes focus away from the dancing itself.
“Im a traditionalist. For me, if you’re doing a Waltz or a Tango or a Salsa, it must have the right music and rhythm – once you take that away, it could be any old dance. So, my advice to her would be to keep the technique strong even when the theme dominates.”
And who does he think could be at risk?
“I think George and Alexis should have been in the dance-off,” Vincent added. “Their Jive was flat-footed, exactly as Craig Revel Horwood said.
“In a Jive, you need bounce coming from the standing leg – when you kick or spin, the body should lift slightly. They didn’t have that. It just looked too heavy. So yes, I’d have put them in the bottom two.”
