Zoe Ball has become the first major name to declare her interest in taking over presenting Strictly Come Dancing – admitting the role would be ‘amazing’ – just two months after questioning her decision to quit her £950,000 Radio 2 Breakfast Show.
The 54-year-old made the revelation on her Dig It podcast with fellow broadcaster Jo Whiley this week, reacting to the bombshell news that Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman were leaving the
The joint exit of the beloved presenting duo has left a glittering vacancy at the heart of the corporation’s biggest entertainment programme, with speculation already mounting about who will fill their shoes.
Speaking about the moment she heard the news, Zoe said: ‘I thought it was such a shocker for everyone – we were all like, what? My phone was going beep, beep! ‘What? Why did you not tell me this was happening?’ It’s like, ‘I didn’t know! Why would I know?”
The presenter was quick to pay tribute to the departing hosts, saying: ‘I just want to say to the girls, bravo. I think they’re both fab and they’re going to be a tough act to follow on that show.’
But when her co-host Jo asked her directly: ‘Would you like to do it?’, Zoe didn’t hold back, confessing: ‘I think everyone would like to do that job. It’s an amazing job. It’s the best Saturday night show.
Zoe Ball has become the first major name to declare her interest in taking over presenting Strictly Come Dancing
The 54-year-old made the revelation on her Dig It podcast with fellow broadcaster Jo Whiley this week, reacting to the bombshell news that Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman were leaving
‘When I’m watching Ellie dancing with Vito or Lewis and Katya and Alex and JoJo…. they’re just so amazing. It still brings so much joy to people’s lives, that show. Whoever takes over will have the best gig in the world.’
She added: ‘Everyone’s going to want that job. There will be queues going around the block.’
Zoe’s declaration makes her the first major name to publicly express interest in replacing Tess, 56, and Claudia, 53, whose joint decision to step down after years of hosting together has sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry.
Tess has fronted Strictly since its 2004 debut, while Claudia joined the main programme in 2014 after presenting its sister show It Takes Two from 2004 until 2010 – a role Zoe then held until 2021.
Zoe’s long association with the Strictly brand puts her among the frontrunners to replace the departing duo.
As well as hosting the spin-off for a decade, she competed on the show itself – finishing as runner-up in 2005 with professional dancer Ian Waite.
The role would mark a high-profile return to BBC primetime for Zoe after her surprise decision late last year to step down from her Radio 2 Breakfast Show after nearly six years at the helm.
She had taken over from Chris Evans in 2019, becoming the first woman to present the flagship show solo – and cementing her status as one of the BBC’s highest-paid stars, on a salary reported at around £950,000 a year.
When announcing her departure, she said she wanted to ‘spend more time with family’ and explore new projects. Zoe has two children – Woody, 25, and Nelly, 15, with her ex-husband, Norman Cook, better known as Fatboy Slim.
As well as hosting the spin-off for a decade, she competed on the show itself – finishing as runner-up in 2005 with professional dancer Ian Waite
The role would mark a high-profile return to BBC primetime for Zoe after her surprise decision late last year to step down from her Radio 2 Breakfast Show after nearly six years at the helm
However, in a candid admission this August, she revealed she was questioning her decision because her teenage daughter was always out with friends and never home.
‘I gave up work because she’s going to do her GCSEs but she’s never there. She’s out with her mates. I’m like, ‘I’ve given up work for you’,’ she said. ‘I am like ‘What did I give up for?’ Yeah, I have thought about it because I’ve been through this a bit with Woody, but I had the joy of having Nell still around. I don’t know’.
On their podcast, Jo admitted she is literally betting on Zoe to land the Strictly gig, telling her: ‘I’ve already been down the bookies… I’ve put everything I own on Alan Carr doing that show, because I think he’d be perfect, with you as the main presenter.’
She added: ‘You would do it best… I love hearing the love that you have for Strictly and the knowledge that you have for Strictly. When you talk about it, it’s such a fire within you. It’s such a passion.’
Zoe admitted her job decisions are now largely dictated by her children, saying: ‘There are definitely shows where my kids are like, yes, you could do that. No, you can’t do that. Please don’t do that one. You would totally humiliate yourself. Yes, you’re absolutely right.’
Trying to deflect some of the attention, Zoe then added: ‘I think my ship may have passed, but that’s okay. I often think this about The Traitors and those shows – do you want to work on them, or do you want to watch them? Because they’re so good.’
She also floated another potential candidate – actress Hannah Waddingham, 51 – suggesting she would be ‘amazing’ if her Hollywood schedule allowed. ‘We all saw her do Eurovision,’ Zoe said.
‘It depends if she can commit to 12 weeks of the year on a Saturday night because she’s always doing movies and Ted Lasso.’
Reflecting on the legacy Tess and Claudia are leaving behind, Zoe added: ‘Those girls broke glass ceilings… to have two girls at the helm of a Saturday night entertainment show was so unique. And why shouldn’t it be that way? It’s brilliant.
Rylan Clark joined Zoe as a co-presenter for It Takes Two in 2019
The joint exit of the beloved presenting duo has left a glittering vacancy at the heart of the corporation’s biggest entertainment programme
‘The girls together have made that show so fantastic. They’re such a brilliant double act. And I love the fact they’ve owned this story and they’re going together and they’ve decided this now is the time to do that.’
Zoe said she will be watching every remaining episode of this year’s Strictly with a heavy heart.
‘I was watching Claud this weekend thinking, ‘Oh my God, no! There’s only like eight more shows, and then the Christmas special,” she said.
‘Those girls should bow out with such pride. They’re so fabulous and will be really sorely missed. And good luck to the bosses of the BBC – that’s going to be a tough decision.’
