Bruno Tonioli’s Preference for Female Hosts on Strictly Come Dancing
Bruno Tonioli, the former judge of the iconic BBC show Strictly Come Dancing, has made his views clear on who should replace the outgoing hosts, Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. The 70-year-old dancer, who was part of the panel from the very first series in 2004 until his departure in 2019, believes that only women should be considered for the new hosting roles.
Tonioli expressed his thoughts in an interview with the Daily Mail’s Eden Confidential, stating that he thinks it would be better for the show to find two women to take over from Daly and Winkleman. He emphasized that having two women on the show was empowering and that this dynamic made Strictly special.
The current situation is that Daly and Winkleman have stepped down after a 20-year tenure, leaving a void that the producers are now trying to fill. Rumors have been circulating that the BBC might consider a male co-host to bring a fresh perspective to the show. Names like Rylan Clark, Bradley Walsh, and pro dancer Johannes Radebe have been mentioned as potential candidates.
However, Tonioli dismissed the idea of a male co-host, arguing that the presence of two women had a unique and positive impact on the show.
Potential Candidates and Producer Plans
According to sources, the producers behind Strictly Come Dancing are planning to screen test their preferred male candidates in the coming weeks. A source told The Sun that the intention would be to pair the chosen man with a female host.
The show’s executive producers believe that Bradley Walsh has a style similar to Bruce, known for his ability to tell jokes, sing, and charm the audience with his charisma. Rylan Clark, on the other hand, has a massive fanbase and previously hosted the Strictly spin-off It Takes Two. Johannes Radebe brings valuable expertise to the table.
While the focus has been on potential male candidates, there are also strong contenders among the female hosts. Emma Willis and Zoe Ball are being strongly considered for one of the hosting spots by the show’s bosses. Emma, 50, recently took over from Zoe, 55, on BBC Radio 2 after she stepped down from the afternoon slot after just seven months.
Zoe has expressed her desire to take on the hosting job, having previously hosted the Strictly spin-off show It Takes Two until 2021. According to Coral’s John Hill, Emma Willis is proving very popular in the betting for the next Strictly Come Dancing host role. The latest odds suggest that both Emma and Zoe lead the race to replace Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly.
Other Contenders in the Running
There are several other names in the mix for the hosting position. These include Rylan Clark (3-1), Fleur East (4-1), Janette Manrara (4-1), Hanna Waddingham (5-1), Roman Kemp (5-1), Holly Willoughby (6-1), Alesha Dixon (8-1), Scott Mills (8-1), and Stacey Dooley (8-1).
The competition is fierce, and the BBC has not yet commented on the matter. However, the speculation continues to grow as fans eagerly await the announcement of the new hosts. With so many talented individuals in the running, the future of Strictly Come Dancing looks exciting and full of possibilities.
