CLAUDIA Winkleman has denied she quit Strictly Come Dancing because it was embroiled in scandal after scandal.
The presenter, 54, says she and co-host Tess Daly decided over a year ago that it was time to call it a day.
“It occurred to both of us about a year before,” she told Weekend Magazine.
Asked if it was a case of there being one scandal too many, she said: “Absolutely not, it is a genuinely beautiful show to be part of. Almost every single person who’s taken part is happy they did. So no, it wasn’t that.
“The show deserves new. We wanted to leave when we were on an absolute high.”
Traitors host Claudia is Strictly confident bosses will choose her and Tess‘ replacement wisely
“Sarah James, who runs this sparkly, fantastic ship, will choose correctly,” she said.
“I can’t wait to watch it. Tess and I are spending the weekend together and watching the first one. It’s diarised.
“Now I have two new things, but they’re only on for a very short time. And thank goodness they’re gonna fail.’ Yeah, yeah. ‘Then you’re not gonna see me on a Saturday night. That’s it. I’m done. Where is she? Under the duvet with a dog.”
Claudia’s next project, The Claudia Winkleman Show, begins on Friday, March 13 at 10.40pm on BBC1 and iPlayer.
