Alison Hammond finally addresses Strictly Come Dancing hosting speculation

Alison Hammond has revealed she was approached to host Strictly Come Dancing but turned the opportunity down.

The presenter, who first rose to prominence on Big Brother, had been among the names linked to replacing Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly after the pair announced they would step down last year.

Hammond is currently balancing a number of high-profile projects, including her presenting duties on This Morning alongside Dermot O’Leary, The Great British Bake Off and the upcoming Channel 4 series Your Song.

Speaking to Radio Times , Hammond confirmed she had been contacted about the role but said her schedule made it unworkable.

“I have, actually,” she said.

“You didn’t expect that answer, did you?

I can’t lie, I’m incapable,” she told the outlet.

“I’m so busy, babes, that I’m not sure it’s going to happen.

It’s unrealistic.

I’m so happy they considered me but, like Traitors, I can’t do it because everything clashes.”
“I would have loved to have done it – anybody that gets it, they’re going to land the perfect job,” she added.

“But I’m so happy with everything I’ve got.

What would I drop, to do Strictly ?”
Several other names have been floated as potential successors, including Zoe Ball, who previously presented the Strictly spin-off series, It Takes Two, Rylan, Bradley Walsh and Fleur East.

Ball, speaking to The Times earlier this year, said Winkleman and Daly would be a “tough act to follow”.

“I think everyone's name is being thrown into the mix,” she said.

“Obviously, there's part of me that would love to do it.

But I will still be watching, whoever hosts it.”
Another contender is Janette Manrara, who currently presents spin-off show It Takes Two.

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“So, I think anybody that is in my field would love to do it, so we'll just see.

We'll see what happens!”
Meanwhile, ex-Strictly judge Bruno Tonioli said the show should stick with female hosts when replacing Winkleman and Daly.

Tonioli, 70, said he believes the programme works best with two women fronting it.

“I think it will be better for them to find two women to replace Tess and Claudia because what I liked is that you had these two women holding the show.

It was empowering to watch and that's what Strictly should be,” he told the Mail.

“Having Tess and Claudia together on the show made it quite special.”