“She is probably the funniest presenter I’ve worked with.”

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Vernon Kay has revealed who he thinks should replace his wife Tess Daly as the new host of Strictly Come Dancing after Tess and Claudia Winkleman stepped down from the role at the end of last year.

Following Tess and Claudia’s exit, several names have been thrown into the mix for the presenting gig, including Holly Willoughby, Alan Carr, and Emma Willis.

Asked by Metro who he thought might make a good replacement for Tess, Vernon said The One Show presenter Alex Jones would be “perfect” for the role.

“Alex Jones should be on the floor. She is probably the funniest presenter I’ve worked with,” he said.

“With the formalities of The One Show, I don’t think she gives the audience the opportunity to see her funny and irreverent side. She’d be perfect because she is one of the best in a live TV scenario. Absolutely brilliant.

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“If they pick anyone but Alex, that person has to, literally, be made of liquid gold. Alex, for me, is the right choice.”

He added: “She’s done so many years on The One Show [and] deserves a shot at a big prime-time entertainment show. I don’t mean anything derogatory about The One Show – it’s great – but it is Alex’s time.”

On who he thinks could take over Claudia’s role in the Claudatorium, Vernon said: “Then upstairs, someone who knows the show better than most… Rylan.”

rylan clark, this morning

After announcing their exit from the show, Tess shared a statement on Instagram that read: “After 21 unforgettable years, the time has come to say goodbye to Strictly Come Dancing. It’s hard to put into words what this show has meant to me, so here goes.

“Strictly has been more than just a television programme. It’s felt like having a third child, a second family, and a huge part of my life since that very first show back in 2004.vernon kay, tess daly

“I knew then it was something special, but I could never have imagined the magic it would bring.

“Strictly has always been about joy, celebration, and bringing people together – and I’m so proud to have played a small part in something that continues to mean so much to so many.”

Strictly Come Dancing airs on Saturdays on BBC One, while spin-off Strictly: It Takes Two airs on weeknights on BBC Two. Both shows are available to stream on BBC iPlayer.