According to reports, Alan Carr is no longer in the race to host Strictly Come Dancing after a significant touring conflict left BBC executives unsatisfied.
The 49-year-old comic was reportedly one of the broadcaster’s top candidates to succeed longtime hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly, who departed the Saturday night mainstay after almost ten years in charge.
But according to rumors, Strictly’s live broadcast responsibilities conflict with Carr’s lengthy stand-up tour itinerary for 2027, making the role unfeasible for him.
Over the past year, Carr’s popularity has skyrocketed, especially after his triumphant performance on Celebrity Traitors, which has put him at the top of the BBC’s wish list. According to insiders, executives were eager to take advantage of his revitalized reputation and unique presentation style, but they were ultimately compelled to search elsewhere.
“Alan was firmly in the top tier of possible hosts and was one of the BBC’s favorites,” a source told The Sun. However, following conversations, it became evident that he was unable to change his tour dates. Although they comprehend his viewpoint, the BBC is extremely disappointed.
Carr’s new stand-up performance, Have I Said Too Much?, will tour the UK and Ireland extensively in 2027, with about ninety dates planned. The tour’s second part, which runs from September to November, coincides with Strictly’s autumn live performances.
Now that Carr is out, focus has apparently shifted to Rylan Clark, who is thought to have become a new front-runner. In an attempt to find a presenting team that can match the warmth and endurance of the departing duo, the broadcaster is reportedly putting shortlisted applicants through a battery of chemical tests.
Carr, Bradley Walsh, and Alex Jones were among the names that were in the running. Rob Rinder, Zoe Ball, Holly Willoughby, Alison Hammond, Angela Scanlon, and Amanda Holden are some of the other contenders that have been mentioned.
According to insiders, as producers experiment with new formats and on-screen dynamics, possible hosts will be partnered in various combinations, such as same-sex and mixed pairings. According to one source, “they want to mix things up and avoid anything that feels predictable.”
While representatives for Carr have also been approached, the BBC has declined to comment on the rumors.
In October, Winkleman and Daly confirmed that they would be leaving Strictly together following the conclusion of the most recent series in December. “Hosting Strictly has been an absolute dream,” they added in a statement. We’ve always planned to vacation together, and this seems like the ideal moment.
Even though we will be crying when we say the final “keep dancing,” we will most likely continue to say it to one another at home while eating pizza and wearing tracksuit bottoms.
The BBC is eager to find a new presenting lineup well in advance of the upcoming series, so the search for their successors is anticipated to continue into the new year.
