Amanda Holden blasts ‘boring’ list of Strictly 2026 host contenders

Amanda Holden has denied rumours she’ll beryllium nan caller big of Strictly Come Dancing – but said nan existent database of contenders, including Holly Willoughby and Alison Hammond, is “boring”.

After Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman announced their departure from nan show successful 2025, many names were thrown into nan ring, including Holden and her recreation presenting companion, Alan Carr.

But nan presenter and DJ said she has her sheet excessively afloat pinch her duties on ITV juggernaut Britain’s Got Talent, which she’s been a judge connected since 2007, to return connected nan hosting domiciled arsenic it “takes up excessively galore weekends”.

Holden told MailOnline: “You see, I americium already portion of a large show, and I'll happily transportation connected watching Strictly from nan comfortableness of my lounge.”

Addressing nan show’s play broadcasts, she added: “I've sewage to retrieve that I person children and a husband.” Holden has been joined to Chris Hughes since 2008, and nan mates person 2 daughters: Lexi, 19, and Hollie, 13.

While antheral presenters Bradley Walsh, Rylan and Roman Kemp are reportedly successful nan running, Holden is adamant that nan BBC should prosecute 2 women to switch Daly and Winkleman – and urged nan corp to “think extracurricular nan box”.

“There are truthful galore group and women successful our manufacture without getting excessively governmental who person put each nan activity in, each nan hours in, who merit a bloody break, truthful often erstwhile I spot tons of names attached to it, I think, ‘Boring, boring, boring.’ They're each superb people, but you go, ‘Oh travel on, deliberation extracurricular nan box’.”

Holden continued: “They request personification ace funny, and personification that you wouldn't expect.”

She suggested comedian Katherine Ryan and comic character Daisy May Cooper, but besides threw her support down 2 different beardown contenders: Alex Jones and Zoe Ball.

“I rather for illustration nan thought of Alex Jones arsenic well. She does The One Show and is simply a very bully anchor and has a barren consciousness of humour, and I don't spot her enough. She's not been overlooked, but you don't spot capable of her connected TV. She would beryllium a really bully choice.”

She added: “I emotion Zoe Ball successful that benignant of anchor domiciled and past I deliberation personification should return a chance connected a comedian, spell and hunt Edinburgh Festival.”

Daly and Winkleman presented their last Strictly series successful 2025. Daly had hosted nan bid for 21 years, while Winkleman joined arsenic co-presenter connected nan main show successful 2014, having antecedently hosted nan Sunday nighttime results show.

“We person loved moving arsenic a duo and hosting Strictly has been an absolute dream,” nan brace said successful a statement. “We were ever going to time off together and now feels for illustration nan correct time.”