It’s now claimed one of Strictly’s most senior bosses has put forward Paddy McGuinness to replace Claudia Winkleman
Ms Winkleman, 53, and Tess Daly, 56, will leave Strictly at the end of this series
His hopes of becoming a primetime favourite may have dimmed after two of his biggest shows were axed, but Paddy McGuinness is suddenly back at the centre of BBC attention — and at the heart of a heated backstage debate over Strictly Come Dancing’s future.
Despite the BBC shelving both Top Gear and A Question of Sport, insiders now claim that one of Strictly’s most powerful bosses has put forward McGuinness to replace Claudia Winkleman following her shock announcement that she is quitting.
According to BBC sources, Suzy Lamb — managing director of BBC Studios and a long-time supporter of McGuinness, having worked with him on Take Me Out — believes he would be the “perfect fit” to take over the interviewing role Claudia made iconic. She reportedly feels his light, cheeky banter on dating TV would translate naturally to backstage chats with Strictly couples.
But the proposal has ignited a fierce split inside the BBC, with senior teams dividing into two clear camps:
➡️ Team Paddy, led by Lamb, pushing for McGuinness
➡️ Team Rylan, backing Rylan Clark as the stronger, safer choice for Strictly’s brand
One insider describes the atmosphere as “tense and fractured,” with both sides lobbying to protect the show’s identity.
Opponents of Lamb’s choice were reportedly stunned that Strictly could be linked — even tangentially — to the flirty humour of Take Me Out.
A BBC insider said:
“Suzy pushed Paddy strongly. But many feel he’s not right for Strictly — especially after Top Gear and Question of Sport were dropped. Others believe Rylan is the natural pick. Voices are getting loud behind the scenes.”
A BBC Studios spokesperson, however, denied that any formal discussions have taken place.
Suzy Lamb has been one of McGuinness’s biggest champions since joining the BBC in 2018. Shortly after she arrived, he was appointed as host of Top Gear. Three years later, after the controversial removal of Sue Barker, he was placed at the helm of A Question of Sport — but ratings plunged from eight million to two million, and the show was eventually axed after 53 years.
Beyond television, McGuinness, now 52, also experienced personal upheaval after his split from former wife Christine in 2022.
Strictly itself is bracing for a major transformation. Claudia Winkleman, 53, and Tess Daly, 56, will leave the series at the end of this year, marking the biggest presenting shake-up in the show’s history.
Alongside Paddy McGuinness and Rylan Clark, other names rumoured for the top job include Alan Carr, Bradley Walsh, Holly Willoughby, and Hannah Waddingham — a list that has only intensified speculation and added more fuel to the BBC’s internal divide.
