British television is in the throes of a shakeup as two of its most beloved presenters, Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, prepare to bow out of Strictly Come Dancing after more than a decade at the helm. Their departure, announced in October 2025, has sent fans and bookmakers alike into a frenzy of speculation about who will next step into the iconic hosting roles. In a twist that has only fueled the rumor mill further, Zoe Ball—herself a household name in British broadcasting—announced on December 13, 2025, that she is stepping down from her BBC Radio 2 Saturday afternoon show, with her final broadcast set for December 20.
The timing of Ball’s radio exit has not gone unnoticed. As reported by Express.co.uk, betting markets on the next Strictly hosts were suspended following her announcement, with Zoe previously listed as a 4/1 favorite to take over the coveted television job. Alex Apati of Ladbrokes told the publication, “It's looking increasingly likely Zoe Ball has already figured out her next move and we've pulled the plug on the Strictly presenter market as a result.”
Ball’s own words on her BBC Radio 2 show were full of warmth and gratitude as she passed the Saturday afternoon baton to Emma Willis, who will take over the slot in the new year. “I have loved being betwixt my dear friends Romesh (Ranganathan) and Rylan (Clark), and you know, I love you all to bits, but I'm not disappearing completely. Obviously, it'll be Christmas Crooners and I'm doing an Eras show in the new year, more on that later. But 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. You'll have loved her on The Voice, The Circle, Big Brother, Cooking With The Stars, Love Is Blind, and Delivering Babies, she's a gorgeous lass so welcome to the BBC Radio 2 family and Saturday afternoons, Emma Willis,” Ball told listeners.
Willis, 49, responded with characteristic humility and excitement, declaring on Instagram that it was “an honour” to take over from the “legendary” Zoe. She added, “It's really exciting, and it's quite nerve-racking 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.”
Meanwhile, fans on social media wasted no time linking Ball’s Radio 2 departure to the search for new Strictly hosts. Comments flooded in under Ball’s announcement, with one user writing, “I am hoping so much that Zoe is leaving to become one of the new SCD hosts. Pleeeeease!” Another echoed, “Congratulations, Emma! Does this mean that Zoe will be Strictly’s new presenter?? Hope so!” The sentiment was widespread, with others chiming in that Ball is “surely” now a dead cert for the job and would be “great” as a replacement.
The speculation has been further stoked by reports in the Daily Mail and The Sun that the BBC has drawn up a shortlist of ten high-profile contenders—dubbed the “Golden Ten”—for the hosting gig. Alongside Zoe Ball, names such as Bradley Walsh, Alex Jones, Alan Carr, Rylan Clark, Rob Rinder, Holly Willoughby, Amanda Holden, Alison Hammond, and Angela Scanlon are said to be in the mix. A TV insider told The Sun, “They will go to a studio and be put into different pairs to see who works together best. It could be two women or two men paired, or a mix. They will ultimately choose whoever has the best chemistry in each partnership.”
Ball’s credentials are hard to dispute. She previously hosted Strictly: It Takes Two on BBC Two from 2011 to 2021, earning a loyal following for her wit, warmth, and deep knowledge of the show’s inner workings. Her recent return to Radio 2 in May 2025, following a six-year run on the Breakfast Show, was seen by many as a homecoming. Yet, after just seven months back in the Saturday slot, her decision to step down has only heightened the sense that a new television chapter may be imminent.
As for Tess Daly, 56, and Claudia Winkleman, 53, their departure marks the end of an era. The duo, who have co-hosted Strictly since 2014, made their intentions clear in a heartfelt video message posted to Daly’s Instagram in October: “We have loved working as a duo and hosting Strictly has been an absolute dream. We were always going to leave together and now feels like the right time. We will have the greatest rest of this amazing series and we just want to say an enormous thank you to the BBC and to every single person who works on the show. They’re the most brilliant team and we’ll miss them every day.”
Their last on-screen appearance will be during the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas Special, recorded on December 9, 2025, with their final live presenting duties coming during the grand final on December 20. After that, the stage is set for a new hosting duo to take the reins in 2026.
Whoever steps into the spotlight will have big shoes to fill. The chemistry between Daly and Winkleman has become synonymous with the show’s success, and the BBC appears determined to find a pairing with similar magic. The plan, according to insiders, is to run chemistry tests with various combinations of the shortlisted presenters, ensuring that the new hosts can match—or even surpass—the rapport that has endeared Tess and Claudia to millions.
For her part, Zoe Ball has made it clear she’s not disappearing from public life. She will continue to host specials for Radio 2, including her popular “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. In her official statement, Ball said, “Spending Saturday lunchtimes with the Radio 2 gang has been an absolute hoot, the listeners, the stories, and of course my weekly giggles with Romesh and Rylan. 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!”
Emma Willis, meanwhile, is relishing her new role, telling the BBC, “I'm a huge fan of Radio 2, so I'm absolutely chuffed to be joining the family—and it's a real honour to follow in the huge footsteps Zoe leaves behind, who's someone I admire and adore. I'm very much looking forward to spending my Saturday lunchtimes with the Radio 2 audience and I'll happily be the filling to a Romesh and Rylan sandwich!”
As the curtain falls on one era of Strictly Come Dancing and the stage is set for another, viewers are left to wonder: will Zoe Ball be the one to waltz into the spotlight, or will another contender from the “Golden Ten” seize the glitterball? One thing’s for sure—the next few weeks will be filled with speculation, excitement, and, as always, plenty of sparkle.
