Is Zoe Ball the next Strictly host? Fans  speculate star could replace Claudia Winkleman or Tess Daly on the ballroom show after quitting Radio 2

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On Saturday, she revealed live on the radio that she’s leaving her weekend program on BBC Radio 2. Her last show will be broadcast in just a few days, marking the end of her seven-month run.

Strictly Come Dancing viewers are buzzing online, wondering if TV presenter Zoe Ball, 55, might become the show’s next host. Some believe she could replace either Claudia Winkleman, 53, or Tess Daly, 56.

Following the announcement that Zoe is leaving Radio 2, Ladbrokes has stopped taking bets on who will replace Tess and Claudia on Strictly Come Dancing.

Zoe was once a long shot for the role, but now she’s become the frontrunner, surpassing many of the other top candidates.

According to Ladbrokes, Zoe Ball is now the clear favorite to replace Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman on ‘Strictly Come Dancing’. A Ladbrokes spokesperson told the Daily Mail that the betting odds suggest she’s almost certain to get the job, following the announcement that Tess and Claudia are leaving.

The DJ, who rejoined Radio 2 in May after leaving the popular Breakfast Show last year, announced that Emma Willis, age 49, will be taking over her role.

Zoe announced that her last regular Saturday show will be on December 20th, but she reassured listeners she isn’t leaving entirely and will still present occasional special programs for the station.

Emma announced to the audience that she was, in fact, Emma, and shared how much she’s enjoyed working with Romesh Ranganathan and Rylan. She reassured everyone that, despite the reveal, she wasn’t leaving for good, saying she loves them all very much.

As many of you know, the holidays are fast approaching, and I’m so excited to kick things off with a special Christmas Crooners program! And looking ahead to the New Year, I’m planning a fantastic Eras show – I’ll share more details on that soon. But the biggest news? We’re welcoming a truly incredible woman to the Radio 2 family. She’s a total pro and someone many of you already know and love, so you can rest assured you’ll be in the best possible hands!

Zoe shared that she’s really enjoyed hosting Saturday lunchtimes on Radio 2, especially the connection with listeners, hearing their stories, and sharing laughs with Romesh and Rylan.

I’m so excited for Emma to start! She’s incredibly positive and will bring a lot of fun and great music to your Saturdays.

Emma shared her excitement about joining Radio 2, saying she’s thrilled to become part of the team. She also expressed her admiration for Zoe, whose legacy she feels honored to follow.

I’m thrilled to be joining the Radio 2 listeners on Saturdays for lunchtime, and I’m excited to work alongside Romesh and Rylan – I’m happy to complete their dynamic duo!

The BBC confirmed the news on Instagram and also promoted Zoe’s first show with the station.

Zoe will still present special programs on the station. Her first new project is a fresh series of the award-winning ‘Eras’ podcast, which will be available on Radio 2 and BBC Sounds. This series will explore the life and remarkable career of Phil Collins.

Following the announcement, fans were quick to speculate about Zoe’s next move. 

Someone asked if Zoe is committed to a contract, hoping that’s the case. Another person congratulated Emma and wondered if Zoe might be the new host of Strictly, expressing hope that it happens.

Someone else joked, ‘Hopefully they’ve already signed up to host Strictly Come Dancing!’ Another agreed, ‘They absolutely have to be hosting Strictly… it just makes sense!’

This news follows a Daily Mail report that BBC executives are considering a list of ten potential hosts for the next season of Strictly Come Dancing.

Bradley Walsh, Alex Jones, and Alan Carr are among the leading candidates to host the show, according to sources. Producers are planning to test the chemistry between potential pairings by having them work with different co-hosts to find the best on-screen duo.

According to a source speaking to The Sun, the BBC is finding it difficult to replace Claudia and Tess, but they’ve narrowed down their search to ten potential candidates.

Bradley, Alex, Alan, Rylan Clark, Rob Rinder, Zoe Ball, and Holly Willoughby will all be attending the chemistry day.

‘Amanda Holden, Alison Hammond, and Angela Scanlon have made the cut too.’ 

According to a source, the celebrities will be brought to a studio and paired up in different combinations to determine which duos have the best chemistry on camera.

Contestants on Strictly Come Dancing can be paired with partners of any gender – two women, two men, or one of each. Show officials are hoping to create fresh and unique pairings this season.

Daily Mail has contacted BBC for comment. 

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2025-12-13 22:34