On December 13, 2025, BBC Radio 2 listeners were met with a surprise as Zoe Ball, one of the UK’s most beloved broadcasters, announced live on air that she would be stepping down from her Saturday afternoon show. After just seven months in the weekend slot, Ball’s final broadcast is set for December 20, 2025, leaving fans and colleagues reflecting on her remarkable journey and speculating about her next career move, according to Daily Mail and Mirror.
Ball, 55, is no stranger to big career moments. She first made history as the first woman to single-handedly present the BBC Radio 1 Breakfast Show in the late 1990s. More recently, she helmed the flagship BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show for almost six years before stepping down in December 2024. At that time, she cited a desire to focus on her family and escape the relentless 4am alarms that came with early morning radio. "You only have a couple of years, and she’s off to university and gone," her father, Johnny Ball, told The Sun, referring to Zoe’s 16-year-old daughter. He candidly added, "Zoe didn’t realise you don’t see anything with 16-year-old daughters anyway, because they’re always out so she realises it was perhaps the wrong decision. But, she’s happy she did it, and now she’s got a totally new lease of life. Her career’s fine."
After a brief hiatus, Ball returned to BBC Radio 2 in May 2025, taking on the more relaxed Saturday afternoon slot from 1pm to 3pm. Listeners quickly embraced her easygoing style and trademark giggles, especially as she nestled between fellow presenters Romesh Ranganathan and Rylan Clark. "I have loved being betwixt my dear friends Romesh and Rylan, and you know, I love you all to bits, but I'm not disappearing completely," Ball assured her audience during her live announcement, as reported by Daily Mail and Mirror.
Ball’s departure has set off a wave of speculation about her next move—most notably, whether she could be destined for the iconic Strictly Come Dancing ballroom. Fans took to social media almost immediately, wondering if Ball could be tapped to replace longstanding hosts Claudia Winkleman, 53, or Tess Daly, 56, both of whom announced in October 2025 that they would be leaving the show. "Is Zoe Strictly bound? I do hope so," one fan wrote, echoing a sentiment that quickly gained traction online. Bookmakers seem to agree: Ladbrokes suspended betting on the next Strictly hosts following Ball’s announcement, with a spokesperson telling Daily Mail, "Radio 2's loss will be Strictly's gain, if the latest odds are anything to go by... we've now pulled the plug on Tess and Claudia's replacement with Zoe Ball seemingly a shoo-in for the job."
The BBC, meanwhile, is taking a thorough approach to finding the new faces of Strictly. According to Daily Mail, the broadcaster has drawn up a 'Golden Ten' shortlist of potential hosts, including Bradley Walsh, Alex Jones, Alan Carr, Rylan Clark, Rob Rinder, Holly Willoughby, Amanda Holden, Alison Hammond, Angela Scanlon, and, of course, Zoe Ball. Insiders say contenders will undergo a series of partner-swap chemistry tests, mixing up gender pairings and personalities, in a bid to find the perfect on-screen match. An unnamed source told The Sun, "Replacing Claudia and Tess is a mammoth task, but the BBC have whittled down the talent to ten people. As well as Bradley, Alex and Alan, Rylan Clark, Rob Rinder, Zoe Ball, and Holly Willoughby will be at the chemistry day. Amanda Holden, Alison Hammond, and Angela Scanlon have made the cut too."
Ball herself has addressed the Strictly speculation with characteristic humility and enthusiasm. Appearing on the Dig It podcast with Jo Whiley, she said, "I think everyone would like to do that job. It's an amazing job. It's the best Saturday night show. 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. Everyone's going to want that job. There will be queues going around the block."
But as one door closes, another opens. Emma Willis, 49, has been confirmed as Ball’s replacement for the coveted Saturday afternoon Radio 2 slot. Willis, a familiar face from TV hits such as The Voice, The Circle, Big Brother, and Cooking With The Stars, is no stranger to radio either, having hosted on Heart and served as a stand-in presenter on Radio 2 since 2019. Ball was effusive in her praise, telling listeners, "I am over the moon for the fabulous Emma to take the reins, she's pure sunshine and is going to bring all the joy (and tunes!) to your Saturdays!" Willis, meanwhile, admitted to feeling both "excited" and "nervous," saying, "It's really exciting, and it's quite nerve wracking as well, because you've got, you always have fantastic boots and shoes, but they are very big boots and shoes to step into Zoe Ball."
Helen Thomas, Head of Radio 2, also weighed in, stating, "Emma is one of the UK’s most popular broadcasters, so I'm thrilled that she's joining the all-star Radio 2 family of presenters. I'm certain that our loyal listeners will welcome her with open arms. I can't wait to hear Emma's new show as a part of our Superstar Saturday weekend schedule, which features Tony Blackburn, Dermot O’Leary, Romesh Ranganathan, Rylan, Liza Tarbuck, Gary Davies and Fearne Cotton."
Despite stepping down from her regular Saturday slot, Ball will not be disappearing from the airwaves. She has confirmed she will continue to host special programmes for Radio 2, including the annual "Christmas Crooners" and a new series of the award-winning Eras podcast, which will focus on the life and career of Phil Collins in early 2026. As Ball herself put it, "I am thrilled to tell you that you will be in the safest of hands, because there is a superwoman who is no stranger to you all, but this does mean that she will officially become a member of the Radio 2 family."
Ball’s recent years have not been without personal challenges. She has spoken openly about her diagnosis of temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), which causes headaches, and the loss of her mother, Julia, in April 2024. Yet, her resilience and ability to connect with audiences have kept her at the top of her field—she was the second-highest-earning BBC star in 2023/2024, earning just under £1,000,000 and making her the highest-paid female presenter at the corporation.
As the BBC prepares for a new era in both radio and television, all eyes are on Zoe Ball. Will she step into the Strictly spotlight? Or will her next chapter take an entirely unexpected turn? Whatever the outcome, her warmth, wit, and undeniable talent ensure she’ll remain a cherished figure in British broadcasting for years to come.
