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Ben Shephard makes four-word admission about Strictly Come Dancing hosting gig

This Morning star Ben Shephard has addressed taking over the Strictly Come Dancing hosting role after Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman presented their final show last year

[WIMBLEDON, ENGLAND - JULY 3: Ben Shephard attends as a guest of Emirates, Official Airline Partner of The Championships, Wimbledon on July 3, 2025 in Wimbledon, England. (Photo by Hoda Davaine/Getty Images for Emirates)]

Ben Shephard addressed taking over on Strictly Come Dancing (Image: Hoda Davaine, Getty Images for Emirates)

Ben Shephard has weighed in on speculation about him potentially taking over the new Strictly Come Dancing presenting duties, but firmly declared: "I'm not brave enough."

The BBC is yet to reveal who will replace Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly after the duo fronted their final Strictly programme last year.

Speculation has been rife regarding their successors, with personalities like Zoe Ball and Rylan Clark being mentioned as potential candidates.

The This Morning presenter has now responded to suggestions he could land the BBC role, telling Metro: "Hosting Strictly? ! Goodness me! Saturday nights. I've never even done Strictly [as a contestant].

"I feel like anybody that hosts that show needs to have a bit of an insight into what it is like to go through the mill," reports Wales Online.

[Ben Shephard]

Ben Shephard has addressed the possibility of hosting Strictly Come Dancing(Image: Getty)

Speaking ahead of his upcoming ITV programme The Summit, he added: "I've never been brave enough do it. I've climbed the mountain [Kilimanjaro]. I'd do The Summit. But I'm not brave enough to take on Strictly."

This comes after Zoe, widely tipped as the favourite to succeed Tess and Claudia, revealed to The Sunday Times: "Obviously, there's a part of me that would love to do it. But I will still be watching, whoever hosts."

Discussing the show, she added: "This is the hilarious thing, it's all anyone talks to me about.

"At the moment I am in mourning for Tess and Claud because I love those girls. I think everyone's name is being thrown into the mix."

[Zoe Ball]

Zoe Ball is currently a frontrunner for the Strictly hosting gig(Image: BBC)

She further expressed: "I love that show. I loved performing on it with Ian Waite, who is one of my best buddies. It's so joyful, and it's live telly, which is another thing that people don't give the girls enough credit for. That show is a beast. Whoever gets to do it has a tough act to follow."

In other news, both Alan Carr and Amanda Holden have confirmed they won't be stepping into the Strictly hosting shoes.

While appearing on the Table Manners podcast, Alan confessed: "No, we said no ages ago."

Amanda echoed this sentiment on her Heart Radio Breakfast show, stating: "I want to say now that me and Alan are 100 per cent not doing Strictly."

[Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly during the Strictly final]

Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly announced their Strictly Come Dancing exit last year(Image: BBC)

She added: "We are so flattered to be in that mix. We both are not doing it."

This follows last year's announcement from Strictly Come Dancing hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman confirming their departure from the popular programme.

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The pair's final live broadcast wrapped up in December, leaving viewers feeling emotional.

Tess had been at the helm of Strictly since its launch in 2004, initially co-hosting with Bruce Forsyth before Claudia took over from Bruce in 2014.

Strictly Come Dancing is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.

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