Aspects for the week beginning 26 October 2025

Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly leaving Strictly

In one of the shocks of the week, Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly announced that this would be the last series of Strictly Come Dancing that they would take part in.  Although I like to vary my blog themes, this one does follow on from last week’s survey of Strictly.

Claudia’s Birth Chart

I wrote in 2014:

“Claudia Winkleman, new Co-Presenter

“No one can replace the unique contribution of long time main presenter Bruce Forsyth who has now retired from the post.  But Claudia Winkleman is a presenter of some talent, and is the daughter of Eve Pollard the journalist and fashion writer.  Claudia has been a regular presenter on this show, sometimes filling in for Bruce, and usually co-hosting the Sunday show with Tess Daly.  She is a Capricorn and favours wearing black, but I think the penchant for severe black sleeves is a fashion faux pas, possibly down to her Venus exactly Square Saturn natally.”

I would like to add that she gives the impression of having been an Egyptian queen in a past life, and the South Node in Leo in her chart supports that (according to my own Past Life Archetype system!).

She has various problems with her eyesight, and that shows up in her chart with Mars conjunct Chiron.

Claudia is lauded for her fashion sense, and part of that may come from her mother Eve Pollard, who is also a Capricorn by the way.

Life and Career

Claudia was born in Westminster, and her parents divorced when she was three.  She read Art History at Cambridge.  She began her television career in 2001, on a programme called “Central Weekend”, around the time of her Saturn Return.  In 2003, she was involved with the programme “Fame Academy”.  She then moved on to host the companion show to Strictly, “It Takes Two”.  She was also involved with presenting for Eurovision.

In 2010 Claudia became co-host of the Strictly Sunday night results show, and when Bruce Forsyth retired in 2014, she became Tess Daly’s co-host for the main show.  The same year, at Halloween, her daughter’s Halloween costume caught fire.  I remember the anguish of that time.  Neptune was square Claudia’s Neptune (turmoil) and Uranus was on her natal Mars in Aries (a shock involving fire).

The Traitors

In what seems a perfect fit, Claudia began hosting the new game show “The Traitors”, first screened on 29^th November 2022.  Chiron was transiting her Mars at the time, but it was also the year of her Chiron Return, a cycle when the Inner Healer comes to the fore.  Maybe the role she plays in “The Traitors” represents something about her Inner Healer!  Jupiter was also sextile her natal Saturn.

The current run of Celebrity Traitors has so far been very entertaining, and drawn good viewing figures (11 million viewers per episode), with Alan Carr shooting one-liners every few minutes, and the Faithful having no clue as to the identities of the Traitors.

The Piano

Another standout show that Claudia has presented in recent years is “The Piano” which she began presenting in 2023.  This beautiful and inspiring programme features amateur pianists showing their talents in railway stations.  The programme first aired on 15 February 2023 (only a few months after “The Traitors”).  Pluto was trine her natal Saturn, her ruling planet, at the time, cementing her reputation as a safe pair of hands for an important new show.  Neptune was sextile her natal Sun, showing her compassionate side (she treated every entrant with tender loving care); and Jupiter was on her natal Chiron (another vehicle for her Inner Healer).

Tess Daly

“I find it challenging to sit still and just watch TV or a movie.  I’d like to say I’m going to make conscious efforts to slow down, but I like to spin all the plates at any given moment, and I don’t know how to do otherwise.  I must be quite annoying to live with.  On the plus side, I’ve got a fast metabolism, so I can eat as much chocolate as I like and.I was going to say I get away with it, but frankly that’s a lie.  I’m breathing in most of the time in those tight dresses on Strictly.”

~ Tess Daly

Tess Daly is even more woven into the fabric of Strictly than Claudia, having co-hosted with Bruce Forsyth from the very beginning.

Birth Chart

Tess has the Entrepreneur Archetype in her birth chart (Jupiter closely conjunct Uranus).  She is an Aries Sun sign (see the quote above!).   She has Jupiter on her South Node, so has brought in some good karma from past lives, and the Entrepreneur conjunction is at that point in her chart, so it is something she has honed in her past.  That she is so associated with the number one dancing show is no surprise when you see that she has Neptune, the planet of dance, closely trine her natal North Node (her karmic mission).

In her partnership with Claudia, her Sun is conjunct Claudia’s Chiron, always an important interlink between two souls.  That they can work together so well is shown by their Marses exactly trine.

Transits

Although much of the focus is on Claudia at the moment, e.g. rumours that she may host a chat show, the transits for Tess are more profound, so she may create a surprising new future for herself.

Neptune is trine Claudia’s Saturn (a heartwrenching decision; they promised to leave together); Chiron is square Claudia’s Sun (more heartwrenching); Jupiter is opposite Claudia’s Sun (a sense of freedom coming).

For Tess, Pluto is trine Tess’s Uranus (life-changing); Neptune is exactly conjunct Tess’s North Node (she may explore her spirituality), Uranus is trine Tess’s Jupiter (an Opportunity, and a surprise announcement); Chiron is on Tess’s Jupiter (a healing sense of freedom); and Jupiter is square Tess’s Venus (a change in her social life).

The bookies are already laying odds on what future duo may take their place, but in the meantime, we wish them well!

Aspects

Aspects begin on Tuesday (28^th), with a trine between Mars and Jupiter.  This could bring an influx of new energy for whatever purpose.  This is a go ahead, spirited aspect which makes us feel we can achieve anything.  Enthusiasm and energy abound, and you may spring out of bed early full of the joys of the season.  Go with Gusto!

A timetable is required for Wednesday (29^th):

7.26 a.m. – Mercury trines Neptune

This aspect brings the possibility of mysteries being solved, e.g. around health conditions.  In personal applications, things may fall into place spiritually, and you may be ready to talk about a sensitive subject.  This trine brings mental inspiration, transcendent wisdom, higher harmony, spiritual journeys, and insight.  A small kindness can bring about significant mental healing.

11.02 a.m. – Mercury enters Sagittarius

This gives us a more cheery mental outlook coming up to Christmas (Is it too early to mention the C word?).  We may be still very much aware of the problems in the world, but we may, in our seasonal spirit of good will, be more supportive of charities and be more innovative in thinking of ways we can help.  Mercury in Sagittarius brings more lightheartedness and expansion.  There’s an opportunity to hone your sense of humour, sarcasm-free; quick-fire wisecracks could bring a laugh a minute.

19.05 Hrs – Mars trine Saturn

Despite being a connection between the two traditional astrological “malefics” this can be very constructive, in a non-dramatic way.  It does mean that hard work can pay off.  Think through what you want to achieve, and set about steadily allowing it to unfold, with some concrete or physical input or ignition on your part.  A trine not to be sniffed at.

19.36 Hrs – Uranus opposes Mercury

This could be tricky for communications, such as I.T.  Social media could be a bit fraught!  A spanner could enter into the works.  But if you are tuned into a higher mental wavelength, e.g. that of telepathy, you may achieve progress and flow.

A helpful note ends the run of aspects this week, with Mercury sextile Pluto on Thursday (30^th).  You could make real progress under this aspect.  This aspect can produce profound thought and communication,  honouring the gravity of a situation if necessary, and enabling meaningful debate to occur.  If you have something important lined up, you may be successful in getting your point across.

The week in bullet points:

• Tuesday – Gusto!
• Wednesday – spirituality; good cheer; construction; glitches
• Thursday – deep communication