BBC announced that Zoe Ball will be leaving her role on BBC Radio 2
Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly (Image: PA)
Strictly Come Dancing viewers are speculating about the replacement for Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman when they leave the show at the end of the current series. In a joint statement on October 23, the presenters’ said: “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.”
The presenters, who have been at a helm of the show for many years, added: “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.
“We will cry when we say the last ‘keep dancing’ but we will continue to say it to each other. Just possibly in tracksuit bottoms at home while holding some pizza.”
Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly (Image: PA)
Earlier today, December 12, BBC announced that Zoe Ball would be leaving her role on BBC Radio 2 before the end of the year and will be replaced by Emma Willis. Speaking about her time on the show, the presenter said: “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.
Zoe announced her replacement on air, she said: “I am thrilled to tell you that you will be in the safest of hands, because there is a super woman 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.”
The sudden announcement has sparked fans to believe Zoe may be in contention for a Strictly role. On X, a user said: “Rylan and Zoe Ball seem like the most obvious choice [for Strictly] given they hosted It Takes Two together.”
Zoe Ball(Image: PA)
Another fan agreed, they said: “I can definitely see Zoe Ball getting chosen since she’s got the experience with Strictly and hosted It Takes Two. As for who will join her will be interesting to see!”
The speculation continued, with as fan wrote: “Wonder if Zoe Ball leaving Radio 2 means she’s been offered a role presenting Strictly. I think they’d be mad not to go for her. Been on and loves the show, plus presented ITT [It Takes Two]. She’s a safe pair of hands.”
Many fans appear pleased with the thought of Zoe joining the Strictly team, as another said said: “Please not Alex jones, Amanda Holden or Holly Willoughby, but Alan Carr and Zoe Ball would be a great partnership, Strictly really have to be careful who they choose.”