FROM DAYTIME AXE TO STRICTLY THRONE? Christine Lampard Emerges as Shock Favourite to Replace Tess and Claudia After ITV Exit
Just weeks after her emotional farewell to Lorraine, Christine Lampard is already being tipped for one of the biggest jobs on British television — hosting Strictly Come Dancing.
The 46-year-old presenter, who was caught up in ITV’s brutal cost-cutting overhaul, is now being quietly lined up by BBC bosses as a potential new face of the iconic Saturday night show, following the bombshell announcement that Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman are stepping down.
And insiders say the move would be nothing short of a fairytale comeback.
“She’s the full package,” a TV source revealed. “Christine has a massive fanbase, she’s calm under pressure, and she knows Strictly inside out after competing herself. Since leaving Lorraine, her name is suddenly on everyone’s lips.”
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The presenter, 46, now has much more time on her hands following her final stint hosting the daytime TV show after being axed amid the channel’s brutal cuts
What looked like a career setback is now being reframed as a door quietly opening behind the scenes.
After years of standing in for Lorraine Kelly, Christine recently shared a heartfelt goodbye to the ITV team she called her “family”, thanking colleagues for the memories, the laughter and the long lunches. But while fans were still digesting her exit, BBC producers were already paying attention.
“Producers love presenters who’ve lived the Strictly journey from the inside,” the insider added. “It worked brilliantly on It Takes Two. Now they’re wondering — why not put Christine centre stage?”
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Christine Lampard has reportedly become a ‘firm frontrunner to host Strictly Come Dancing’ after leaving ITV’s Lorraine
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Tess and Claudia announced they would be stepping down from their roles on the show in a statement released in October, with speculation about their replacements being rife ever since
With Good Morning Britain taking over Lorraine’s slot for much of the year, Christine suddenly has something that’s rare in television: time — and opportunity.
And as the Strictly rumour mill spins faster by the day, viewers are already asking the same question:
Was losing Lorraine the worst thing that could’ve happened to Christine Lampard… or the moment her biggest role finally came into reach?