Kristina Rihanoff has insisted that Strictly Come Dancing’s ‘golden era is long gone and it’s just about scandals and wrongdoing now’ after hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly announced their exit this week.
The 48-year-old, who was a professional dancer on the BBC show between 2008 and 2015, has lifted the lid on what she thinks about the news that shocked the nation on Thursday.
Yesterday (24 October 2025), Claudia, 53, and Tess, 56, revealed to fans that they were quitting the programme after 11 years as co-hosts.
Speaking to GB News, Kristina said: ‘It is very sad for the show to lose those wonderful two ladies.
‘In my eight years on Strictly, it was always wonderful to have them around. The golden era of Strictly was kind of over when we lost Brucey and Len.
‘There was always a lot of comfort being with Claudia upstairs. She was very sweet and always supportive, as was Tess.
Kristina Rihanoff has insisted that Strictly Come Dancing’s ‘golden era is long gone and it’s just about scandals and wrongdoing now’ after hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly announced their exit this week
Yesterday (24 October 2025), Claudia, 53, and Tess, 56, revealed to fans that they were quitting the programme after 11 years as co-hosts
The 48-year-old (pictured) was a professional dancer on the BBC show between 2008 and 2015
‘From my perspective as a dancer, you always felt really good around them.
‘They were not judgmental, they were not judges, just very comforting. I really loved having them around.’
There have been plenty of scandals surrounding the show over the years, including Graziano Di Prima’s sacking, Giovanni Pernice’s ‘bullying’ row and the famous Strictly ‘curse’.
Kristina added: ‘When I joined back in 2008 with John Sergeant, it was a show that gave people a platform to renew and boost their careers.
‘Now it is all about scandals and wrongdoing.’
During her time on the show, Kristina narrowly missed out on the top spot a number of times.
She placed second with Blue singer Simon Webbe in 2012 and third in the ninth series with Jason Donovan.
Kristina also danced with Ben Cohen, Goldie and John Sergeant.
Speaking about Claudia and Tess, Kristina said: ‘They were not judgmental, they were not judges, just very comforting. I really loved having them around’
Kristina pictured with one of her former dance partners Simon Webbe – who she placed second with on the show in 2015
She also believes that the show should take some time away from our screens, so that it can come back ‘bigger and better’.
‘They need to take a leaf out of Dancing with the Stars’ book and maybe go away for a season,’ Kristina said.
‘That is exactly what they did: they missed one season, reshuffled the show, and came back with a better voting system and set.
‘Even if you love something for a long time, you want a little change and something more exciting for people to watch.
‘I think a break would give the show a boost.’
On Thursday Tess and Claudia took to Instagram to announce the news that they will leave Strictly after this series.
The duo, who have been presenting the BBC One dancing competition together since 2014, took to Instagram to break the news.
Claudia, who also hosts BBC series The Traitors and spin-off Celebrity Traitors, and Tess, who first joined the series back in 2004, sat side by side in the clip that confirmed their departure.
Claudia, who also hosts BBC series The Traitors and spin-off Celebrity Traitors, and Tess, who first joined the series back in 2004, sat side by side in the clip that confirmed their departure
Speaking to the camera, Claudia began: ‘There have been some rumblings and we want you to hear this from us.’
Tess chimed in: ‘We have news, after 21 wonderfully joyful years on Strictly, we have decided that the time is right to step aside and pass over the baton.’
‘The very sparkly baton!’ Claudia laughed, before turning to her co-star and pal to add: ‘You’ve been here since the beginning.’
Tess replied, pointing to Claudia: ‘With Bruce, lovely Bruce [Forsyth], and that was over two decades ago but a lot of the time has been with you.
‘It’s been a huge part of our lives since our children were literally babes in arms, and now they’re adults, and I think genuinely we have cherished every second.’
Claudia continued: ‘We have, we’re so lucky to have been part of this amazing show and we just want to thank the Strictly team, because Strictly is the people who make it.’
Since then Tess’ VERY telling comment gave her Strictly Come Dancing exit away weeks ago has been revealed.
And the pair also had an exit pact, which meant that they would always leave together.
BBC bosses have since broken their silence over their departure.
The BBC’s chief content officer Kate Phillips said: ‘I can’t quite believe I’m saying this, but it’s the end of an era with Tess and Claudia’s decision to bid farewell to the Strictly ballroom.
‘They’ve both been such incredible hosts at the very heart of the show, their passion and dedication has gone above and beyond.
They’ve been integral to Strictly’s success over the last 20 years, but I understand why they’ve decided it’s time to hang up the glitter ball and get their weekends back.
‘As Craig would say they are fab-u-lous presenters, and they are fab-u-lous friends to me and so many others at the BBC. Thank you Tess and Claud for everything, we will miss you hugely.’
Managing director of entertainment Suzy Lamb echoed: ‘On behalf of the entire production team at Strictly, we are so going to miss Tess and Claudia.
‘Tess brought elegance, poise, and a genuine love for the show that never waned from the very start. And with Claudia’s charm and razor-sharp wit joining us from It Takes Two in 2014 – it cemented a partnership that has kept our audience captivated ever since.
‘Tess and Claudia are much more than presenters to us – they are part of the Strictly production family – and whilst we’ll miss them dearly, we wish them nothing but the best.’
Sarah James, Strictly’s executive producer, added: ‘Tess and Claudia are quite simply the best duo of presenters in the business and we are so lucky to have had them as our Strictly anchors for so many years.
‘They have championed countless celebrities on the dancefloor, led us all through two series during the pandemic but more importantly they have a deep and genuine bond with the show and every single member of the team.
‘The Strictly Family is often referred to and these women are the matriarchs of that family. We have been together and supported each other for a long time – through pregnancies, births and deaths and to say we will all miss them terribly is an understatement.
‘Tess, Claudia, THANK YOU for everything, it’s not over yet – let’s enjoy the rest of this fabulous series together. I would say Keep Dancing, but you never actually started!’
