Claudia & Tess vow: We’ll quit show together

TESS Daly and Claudia Winkleman are such a strong team they say they will quit Strictly together.

The hosts are massively popular with the show’s 10million viewers – but bosses could be facing a future without them.

It emerged yesterday that Tess, 49, and Claudia, 46, have made a secret pact about quitting.

They have both agreed to leave if the other one decides to call it a day.

In comments that are likely to worry execs, Claudia said: “If Tess ever leaves, so do I. When one of us is done, we go together.”

Tess and Claudia have formed a strong bond during their 14 years working together on the show.

When Bruce Forsyth quit after the 2013 series, bosses brought in Claudia to front the show with his co-host Tess. After five series together, they are now closer than ever.

Claudia said: “After every show I go into Tess’ dressing room and lie down on the sofa.”

A TV insider said: “Losing both Tess and Claudia at the same time would be a nightmare for the BBC. “They would have to find an entirely new presenting team and that would carry with it a lot of risk.

“Bosses will face a tough job finding two new faces who will be as popular with viewers.

“And they risk losing viewers if they get it wrong.”

According to Claudia, there are constant concerns that the ratings might dip.

She said: “We feel the star of the show is the format – the band, the professional dancers, the choreographers. But we don’t take the viewers for granted and we worry every year about whether people will come back. We are grateful when they do.”