Cliff Notes – Strictly’s La Voix replacing Claudia Winkleman could be the BBC’s greatest gamble
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La Voix’s comedic talent and sharp wit have made her a standout on Strictly Come Dancing, overshadowing her dancing skills and providing much-needed Entertainment.
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Her recent viral moment, where she humorously auditioned for Claudia Winkleman’s role, highlights her potential to engage a wider audience and inject fresh energy into the show.
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The suggestion to pair La Voix with a prominent co-host could create a dynamic duo, appealing to both existing fans and attracting new viewers, making her a strong candidate for a hosting role.
Strictly’s La Voix replacing Claudia Winkleman could be the BBC’s greatest gamble
Strictly Come Dancing star La Voix may not be the best dancer, but her whit and comedic genius make her TV gold (Picture: BBC/Ray Burmiston)
Let’s face it, La Voix hasn’t survived this long on Strictly Come Dancing because of her dance abilities, it’s the banter with contestants and judges.
She’s there because she’s bringing more entertainment than anyone else the moment she steps off the dance floor slating Tess Daly’s outfits, clapping back at the judges and bantering with Claudia Winkleman, only to discover she’s bottom of the leaderboard, again.
La Voix is exactly the fun and mischief Strictly Come Dancing needs – but done with such masterful precision.
And that’s why I think that the Drag Race UK star needs to stick around, not as a contestant, but as one of the new hosts replacing Tess and Claudia when they leave.
Last Saturday, La Voix went viral for cracking what could be one of the best jokes Strictly has ever seen. I can’t think of another time the show made me belly laugh outside of a dreadful performance, but I’ve watched La Voix’s little skit on loop all week.
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The drag queen, who is currently on Strictly, has become known for her cheeky humour with the presenters and judges (Picture: Guy Levy/BBC/PA Wire)
Whether you’re a Strictly fan or not, this clip probably found its way onto your algorithm and caught your attention.
In it, the drag icon – real name Christopher Dennis – jokingly made a plea for Claudia Winkleman’s job following the bombshell news that she’ll be leaving Strictly with Tess Daly after the current series.
After a back-and-forth about CVs, Claudio grabbed La Voix’s hand, placed her in prime position in front of the camera, and said: ‘Give it a go, babe – let’s do it now.’
On the spot, La Voix struck a pose, looking directly into the camera, and simply said: ‘Tess.’
It felt like the first truly viral moment of this year’s Strictly Come Dancing -and the first time in the show’s history I’ve genuinely laughed out loud for the right reasons.
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Strictly has always been incredibly earnest – often painfully so.
The pre-performance video interludes; the exaggerated laughs and panto boos are so excruciating I often fast-forward through each episode just to watch the dancing.
But this was a moment of smart, spontaneous comedy – something Strictly has never really been known for.
It started as a gag, but the more I’ve thought about it as the week has gone on, the more it makes sense to me. La Voix might be a joke but it’s one the BBC should take seriously.
I’ve been trying to wrap my head around Tess and Claudia’s departures, completely flummoxed as to who could possibly replace them.
Right now, Fleur East tops the odds to land the biggest job in television. The series 22 runner-up is likable – but she’s not ready to present Strictly Come Dancing.
Her It Takes Two co-star Janette Manrara is also among the names on the list.
I love them Fleur and Janette, but they’re where they belong for now.(Picture: BBC/Rob Parfitt)
Alan Carr is bound to be one of the most sought-after stars in British television after The Celebrity Traitors, but he’s a little too unserious. Every time a contestant got the boot, he’d be trying – and failing – to hold back his giggles.
Strictly does need at least one presenter with his level of star power, though.
But that star power needs to be paired alongside old-school charm with a modern touch – and I can’t think of anyone who fits that bill better than La Voix, particularly for Claudia’s role.
In one moment, the drag icon proved that while she might not have the A-List status of some of the big names tipped to present Strictly in 2026, she’s already primed for event TV, completely unfazed by the biggest audience of her life.
What started as a joke days ago now feels like a stroke of genius.
Pair her with a household name like Davina McCall, Zoe Ball, Holly Willoughby, or Rylan Clark, and I firmly believe La Voix could be the best gamble in British entertainment.
Personally, I think Cat Deeley could be the perfect complement to La Voix. She’s wasted on This Morning opposite Ben Shephard. Individually, they’re great, but together their lack of natural chemistry is obvious.
It’s a rare talent to exude natural wit, think on the spot, and make it look completely effortless. La Voix doesn’t need an autocue, a script, or even particularly good banter to bounce off. She’s so naturally brilliant.
Cat Deeley could be the quintessential co-presenter with La Voix to guide Strictly into its new era (Picture: Mike Marsland/WireImage)
I thought Strictly Come Dancing could be doomed without Claudia and Tess. There isn’t a single name that’s been floated around that could ever do them – or the show – justice.
But perhaps the BBC should take La Voix at her word.
Whoever replaces Tess and Claudia is essentially sipping from a poisoned chalice, given their popularity.
So whichever big name host takes that sip, they will be paired with the safest – and funniest – pair of hands possible. And I really don’t think Strictly Come Dancing should look any further than one of the brightest contestants it’s ever had – even if she’s among the worst dancers.
La Voix has long been known as one of the strongest drag performers in Britain, even before her Drag Race UK appearance. She’s a legend in the LGBTQ+ community, and it’s only right she should become a legend of television too.
Tess and Claudia have left the bar very high, it won’t be easy finding a worthy replacement for these iconic presenters (Picture: PA)
Replacing Claudia with La Voix would be an extraordinary roll of the dice – but one that, more and more, feels like it would hit the jackpot.
I know so many people who’ve never even watched Strictly Come Dancing cackle at La Voix.
She could take Strictly to an entirely new level with a new audience while keeping the existing fans on board.
I can’t think of anyone else who has the potential not only to keep Strictly ticking, but to drag it back to its peak.
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