Strictly Come Dancing returned to Blackpool over the weekend for the annual special at the Tower Ballroom.
But for Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman it was their last ever show at the iconic venue, after they announced they are bowing out as hosts after the 2025 series.
The presenting duo went out in style, partying into the night with tequila shots after the live show on Saturday night.
Tess shared snaps for their epic weekend, with the pals swapping their glitzy Strictly dresses for matching ‘I heart Blackpool’ t-shirts to hit the bar.
Claudia clutched a bottle of Patrón XO Cafe, a premium tipple which hit the headlines recently when a petition managed to get the coffee-infused tequila back on sale after Bacardi revealed four years ago that it was ceasing production.
A giddy Tess also shared snaps of her glam black velvet and sparkling white numbers from the show as she posed with the Strictly stars and celeb contestant La Voix, who announced this weekend she had pulled put of the competition due to injury.
Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly went out in style for their last ever Strictly Blackpool show, partying into the night with tequila shots on Saturday night
‘Blackpool you didn’t disappoint!’ Tess captioned her carousel of pics.
‘From the warmest of welcomes to some truly incredible routines from our brilliant couples; the only downside – having to bid the fondest of farewells to @lavoixtheshow She’ll be very much missed by us all xx ✨’
As well as dances from the 2025 couples, Sunday night’s show from Blackpool also featured the return of Strictly alumni Danny Mac, Ashley Roberts, Layton Williams and Jay McGuiness for a special performance.
The group performed a rendition of their most famous numbers with the professional dancers.
The new routine featured elements of Jay and Ashley’s iconic Jives, Danny’s famous Samba, and Layton’s showstopping Quickstep.
Fans were distracted by Danny’s ripped physique as he danced his famous Samba in an undone sheer shirt and took to social media to say he was ‘robbed’ of the Glitterball.
The former soap star missed out on winning during his series, with Ore Oduba and his professional partner Joanne Clifton coming out victorious.
Impressed by his moves and stage presence, viewers wrote on X: ‘Danny Mac has made my weekend hahah’;
Tess shared snaps for their epic weekend, with the pals posing in their glam dresses before sporting matching ‘I heart Blackpool’ t-shirts to hit the bar
Tess also shared a snap with La Voix , who announced this weekend she had pulled put of the competition due to injury
‘Give Danny Mac another series for goodness sake’;
‘danny mac descending from the blackpool tower ballroom ceiling with his bedazzled shirt open, chest on show, ready to samba his way back into our hearts like it’s 2016 all over again’;
‘it makes me sick to my stomach thinking about how robbed danny mac was even almost a whole decade late’ and ‘Danny Mac really proving he was the most robbed finalist of all time’;
‘Love Jay’ and ‘They’re all still brilliant’.
Tess and Claudia announced they are leaving Strictly back in October.
Tess, 56, has featured in every one of the BBC1 juggernaut’s 21 series, stepping up as main host in 2014 to replace Bruce Forsyth, while Claudia, 54, joined the main show the same year having hosted BBC2 spin-off It Takes Two since 2004.
But despite Claudia being seen as the sidekick for the past 11 years, the presenter’s stock has rocketed since enjoying success on fellow BBC1 show The Traitors, plus new spin-off Celebrity Traitors, and according to some, is keen to explore opportunities away from Strictly.
Tess and Claudia announced they are leaving Strictly back in October. Tess, 56, has featured in every one of the BBC1 juggernaut’s 21 series
As well as dances from the 2025 couples, Sunday night’s show from Blackpool also featured the return of Strictly alumni Danny Mac, Ashley Roberts , Layton Williams and Jay McGuiness for a special performance
Having made her intentions clear to Tess, the former model decided to remain loyal to their pact of leaving together, believing she had “served her time” on the show.
In recent years, Tess has made several hints about passing on the baton in regards to being main host, while Claudia revealed she encountered awkward conversations with Strictly bosses about the show’s clashes with family life, namely taking her son to university to kickstart his first year away from home.
