Emma Willis and Zoe Ball ‘set to battle it out to host Strictly Come Dancing as TV stars fight for Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly’s coveted job’

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Reports suggest Emma Willis and Zoe Ball are both potential hosts for the next season of Strictly Come Dancing and may be competing for the role.

Following the announcement that Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly are leaving the BBC show, many television personalities are now competing to take over their roles as hosts.

Several people have been considered for a highly sought-after television role, and it’s down to either Emma or Zoe for the last remaining position.

Emma, age 49, now hosts the BBC Radio 2 afternoon show. She took over from Zoe, 55, who left the position after only seven months.

Zoe has expressed strong interest in hosting the show, having previously presented the Strictly spin-off, It Takes Two, until 2021.

According to a source, Zoe and Emma are the two final candidates, and only one of them will be selected.

According to sources, the executives at The Sun on Sunday are looking for a host pairing that balances experience with fresh perspective – specifically, a traditional presenter alongside a female stand-up comedian.

Everyone agrees that the funny, unique style Claudia brought to the show, especially through her segment called “Claudatorium”, should continue.

The Daily Mail has contacted Emma Willis and Zoe Ball’s representatives for comment. 

Emma is famous for hosting popular TV shows like The Voice and Love Is Blind UK, often alongside her husband, Matt Willis, who is a member of the band Busted.

Zoe recently revealed she’s very interested in becoming the host of the popular British TV show, Strictly Come Dancing.

Rumors really started to fly when the radio host said she was leaving her weekend show, making it possible for her to take the highly sought-after television position.

Zoe has responded to the rumors, saying she hasn’t been asked about the opportunity yet, but she’s very interested in it.

She admitted she’d be thrilled to return, saying, ‘I really love that show! Performing with Ian Waite was a joy – he’s one of my closest friends.’

She admitted taking over from her friends Claudia and Tess would be a huge challenge. She also emphasized how difficult it is to present live television, noting that people often underestimate the skill involved.

‘That show is a beast. Whoever gets to do it has a tough act to follow.’

Zoe recently told The Sunday Times Style Magazine she’s thinking about who would be a great co-host on Strictly, and while Alan Carr and Amanda Holden aren’t interested, she thinks Rylan would be fantastic and suggests Vernon Kay as another strong possibility.

I’m so excited for Zoe to potentially join Strictly! But she’s been really clear that if she does, it’s not because she wanted to leave her Radio 2 show. She says leaving that was a separate decision, and she’s ready for this new challenge on her own terms.

Zoe left her weekend radio show after only seven months. This followed her previous departure from the popular Breakfast Show slot in late 2024.

She shared that she stepped back from radio partly because of the immense grief she felt after her mother, Julia Peckham, passed away in April 2024 following a brief fight with cancer. She described the months after her mother’s death as a very difficult and painful time.

After experiencing a loss, she decided to rethink her career and focus more on her relationships with her children, Nelly, 16, and Woody, 25.

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2026-02-08 01:05