Zoe Ball Eyes Strictly Hosting Role After Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman
Zoe Ball Expresses Interest in Hosting Strictly Come Dancing
Zoe Ball, a well-known presenter and broadcaster, has recently expressed her interest in taking over as the host of Strictly Come Dancing. The 54-year-old revealed that the role would be "amazing" just two months after she questioned her decision to leave her £950,000 Radio 2 Breakfast Show. Her comments came during an episode of her podcast Dig It with Jo Whiley, where she reacted to the news that Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman were stepping down from their roles on the BBC's flagship entertainment show.
The departure of the beloved presenting duo has created a significant vacancy at the heart of the corporation’s most popular program, sparking speculation about who might fill their shoes. When Zoe first heard the news, she was taken aback, saying: “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?'”
She quickly paid tribute to the outgoing hosts, stating: “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.” However, when asked directly by Jo if she would like to take over, Zoe didn’t hesitate. She said: “I think everyone would like to do that job. It's an amazing job. It's the best Saturday night show.”
Zoe continued to express her admiration for the show, mentioning how much joy it brings to people’s lives. She added: “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 also joked that there would be “queues going around the block” for the position.
Zoe’s declaration makes her one of the first major names to publicly express interest in replacing Tess and Claudia, whose joint decision to step down after years of hosting together has sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry. Tess has been a mainstay on Strictly since its debut in 2004, while Claudia joined in 2014 after hosting its sister show It Takes Two from 2004 until 2010—a role Zoe held until 2021.
Her long association with the Strictly brand puts her among the frontrunners to replace the departing duo. In addition to 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.
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 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. 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.”
