Shirley Ballas has detailed what her initial reaction was to finding out Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman would be leaving their roles as presenters on BBC's Strictly Come Dancing.
The judge, 65, admitted she had been "surprised" and "sad" after hearing the news, which was announced to the public by the presenting duo in October.
Ms Daly, 56, has presented the popular dance show from its debut in 2004, with Ms Winkleman, 53, having started off on the competition's spin-off chat show, It Takes Two, also in 2004.
She began co-presenting with Ms Daly in 2014. During the latest series, which wrapped up on December 20, the pair announced they would be stepping down following the last episode.
Shirley Ballas shared her response to Tess and Claudia's exits
|BBC
Their final appearance as Strictly judges came in the pre-recorded Christmas Special episode, which aired on Christmas Day.
Speaking recently, Ms Ballas said she was "surprised" by the decision.
In an interview with Saga Magazine for its January issue, she continued: "Everyone was surprised.
"I share the changing room next to them, and they are full of giggles and laughter.
Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly filmed their final BBC Strictly episode on December 20
| BBC"They also showed me the way from when I joined until now, so it will be a sad day when they go."
Ms Ballas herself joined the show as head judge in 2017, and despite the fact she's become a staple of the judging panel, she revealed to the publication she almost left the show after her debut series.
"I didn't know if I wanted the job back because of the intrusion, people selling stories, the constant criticism," she confessed.
However, she went on to detail how it had been her son Mark who encouraged her to stay on the show.
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Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly on the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special 2025 | BBCIt was confirmed on Monday, December 29, that Ms Winkleman already has a huge new presenting gig up her sleeve.
As well as hosting The Traitors, which returns on New Year's Day, she is set to front her own chat show on BBC One.
The Claudia Winkleman Show will launch in spring 2026, comprising seven 50-minute episodes available on both BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
So Television, the company responsible for The Graham Norton Show, will produce the new programme.
BBC Strictly's Shirley Ballas also admitted she almost decided not to return to the show after her debut in 2017
| BBCEach episode will feature major names from cinema, television and music joining Ms Winkleman for conversations in front of a live studio audience.
Graham Stuart, So Television's managing director and executive producer on the project, said: "Graham Norton has made the Friday night talk show slot a dazzling appointment to view. How can you possibly follow that? By booking a host equally as brilliant. So we have."
Ms Winkleman responded to the announcement with characteristic modesty, saying: "I can't quite believe it and I'm incredibly grateful to the BBC for this amazing opportunity.
"I'm obviously going to be awful, that goes without saying, but I'm over the moon they're letting me try."