Alison Hammond has dropped a big hint that she might be the next presenter to take over hosting duties on Strictly Come Dancing after Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman step down following this year’s series. The 50-year-old, best known for co-hosting This Morning alongside Dermot O’Leary on ITV, has recently broadened her TV presence by working across different channels.
In 2023, Alison replaced Matt Lucas as co-host of The Great British Bake Off on Channel 4. She has also appeared with her 20-year-old son Aidan on Channel 4’s Celebrity Gogglebox, and starred in the BBC travel series Alison Hammond’s Florida Unpacked, which followed their tour around the US state.
Now, Alison seems to be making a more serious bid for the coveted Strictly host role. During a chat on Loose Women, she called the position her “dream job.” With a playful grin, she declared, “Let’s announce it now, I am the new host of Strictly Come Dancing!” The audience responded with laughter and applause as she added, “The BBC don’t even know it yet.”
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She went on to say, “Whoever gets that job – what an amazing job to get. It is the dream job – I’d absolutely do it.” Alison didn’t hold back, continuing in her trademark confident style: “Let’s be honest, they would be silly not to have me. Anybody who does that job I wish them the best but you’ll always be thinking, ‘If it’s not me, it should be Alison’ – so they might as well just give it to me.”
With a history on Strictly Come Dancing herself, Alison would be a natural choice. She competed in 2014, paired with professional dancer Aljaž Škorjanec. Although she didn’t win the glitterball trophy, she impressed viewers with her vibrant performances before being eliminated in sixth place. That year’s winner was the late Caroline Flack, partnered with Pasha Kovalev.
Alison returned for the 2015 Strictly Christmas Special, where she performed even better, finishing as runner-up alongside Robin Windsor. The winner that year was Harry Judd of McFly and Joanne Clifton.
During her Strictly stint, Alison credited the show with boosting her fitness and confidence. She recalled losing 5 pounds in the first two days of training and feeling stronger day by day. “After three weeks, this is the fittest I’ve felt in my whole life,” she said. However, weight loss was secondary to the enjoyment she found in dancing. “It’s less like exercise and more about having a laugh,” Alison explained. “It’s like when you go clubbing and can’t stop dancing because you’re having such a good time. I always wanted to find something I really enjoy and I think I’ve found it.”
Alison has also been open about her health journey. After an unsuccessful gastric band surgery, she denied using weight loss injections to drop 11 stone, clarifying that her motivation was health-related to avoid diabetes. Her approach includes cutting out sugar and fatty foods, eating protein and vegetables, drinking plenty of water, and maintaining an active lifestyle with personal training sessions, walking, stretching, and yoga.
“After a session at the gym, I feel like Venus Williams with all those endorphins,” she said. “If I miss a session or two, I notice it. That kick you get and the way you feel is so good.”
With her charisma, health journey, and undeniable passion for dancing and presenting, Alison Hammond could well be the exciting new face to lead Strictly Come Dancing into the future.