Zoe Balls addresses Strictly presenting snub and explains why she’s relieved
Zoe Ball signs off from the BBC Radio 2’s Breakfast Show for final time
The BBC has officially announced the new presenting team for Strictly Come Dancing, with Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe, and Johannes Radebe taking over after long-serving hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman stepped aside
BBC Radio presenter Zoe Ball, who was amongst those considered for the role, has now said she’s relieved not to have secured the position, reports the Express.
She told The Sun: “I screen tested with Josh and he is hilarious. He is going to be so good. Emma is just gorgeous, and I love Johannes, so they are going to ace it. And I don’t have to have a facelift, so I’m quite happy.”
Speaking at The Podcast Show 2026 alongside her Dig It podcast co-presenter Jo Whiley, she continued: “For Jo and I, it’s hell. We both hate being in vision, that’s why we really loved doing radio.
“Then they started filming that. They film everything. And as we get older, we’re like, ‘dim the lights!’ We’d happily never be filmed again.”
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Zoe Ball has opened up about missing out on Strictly(Image: Getty)
Fellow radio broadcaster Sara Cox, who also auditioned unsuccessfully, revealed on her Tuesday BBC Radio 2 Teatime programme: “I tried out for Strictly.
And I will say I tried out for it two days after I got offered my number one, all-time, dream job of the Radio 2 Breakfast Show.
“So I was like, ‘Oh, I’ll go along and try for Strictly as well, why not, and what next? News at Ten?’ So I went along, and it was the most gorgeous experience. I got into a car that was taking me to a secret destination.”
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Emma Willis is one of the new Strictly hosts(Image: Getty)
“It was all hush-hush, and it was basically a bit like, you know, when you can go and play the Crystal Maze interactive game? It was like that. I was like, ‘Great, I’m going to be a Strictly presenter for an hour!’ The whole thing was really great fun.”
This Morning presenter Rylan Clark has also commented on Strictly, posting on social media: “Just wanted to say, as it was reported I was in ‘The Race’ for Strictly.
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The new hosts for Strictly were recently announced(Image: Ray Burmiston/BBC/PA Wire)
“The biggest congrats to my Emma and equal congrats to Johannes and Josh. You’re all going to have the best time. Made up for you’s.
“This wasn’t my time, sadly, but I am extremely grateful to even have been considered. I’m taking the news really well (see
but genuinely looking forward to the new series with you three x (sic).”
Strictly Come Dancing will return to BBC One later this year, with the exact date still to be announced.
