Strictly Come Dancing 'favourite' Zoe Ball confirms she won't be its new presenter - and reveals "grief" at "rejection"

Zoe Ball has confirmed she is no longer in the running for the Strictly Come Dancing hosting job, admitting she has worked though "grief and rejection" after learning the news.

The broadcaster had been a favourite amongst fans to take over from Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, and had even teased she had something major coming up but couldn't "say anything about it".

However, Ball has lifted the lid about losing out on the job during her latest episode on the Dig It podcast with Jo Whiley. Discussing the role, she said: "I didn't get it, but it's OK. I have worked through the seven stages of grief/ rejection, over the last couple of days."

Ball is the first presenter who had been linked to the role to publicly confirm she had taken part in the previously reported chemistry tests, but is now out of the running.

"Obviously the papers have got wind of certain things, I don't think think they've got the full story yet, and I don't think the BBC have confirmed everything as of yet," she added.

In the podcast episode, due to be released later later, the presenter added: "No, I didn't get it, but I tell you what, if who I think has got it, we're in safe hands and our new hosts are going to be fabulous.

"I'm so thrilled for them, and hopefully at a later date, we'll be able to talk about them in more detail."

The most recent name thought to be a frontrunner as a leading Strictly presenter is Emma Willis, with a source telling The Sun: "Emma has been offered the Strictly job and is going to accept. She absolutely nailed the chemistry tests and the BBC adore her.

"Emma is a household name and a safe pair of hands so the BBC know she will do the job justice. She’s incredibly popular with the public too and will suit the role down to a tee."

A BBC spokesperson told Radio Times: "Plans for Strictly Come Dancing 2026 will be confirmed in due course."

Ball said of the Strictly presenting roles (via BBC News): "I was so chuffed to even be in the mix. There were some pretty amazing people who didn't even make it into the mix.

"So I made it in the mix, and I had a really fun time having one last little play at a show that I love and adore. And I'm so thrilled for the gang that has got it.

"I think there's been so many eyes on this whole process, everyone's quite relieved now that a decision has been made and the right ­decision has been made."

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News for the upcoming season of Strictly Come Dancing has been coming through each day, with the BBC recently confirming which professionals would be officially returning to the show later this year.

For the upcoming run, Dianne Buswell, Amy Dowden, Katya Jones, Neil Jones and Nikita Kuzmin have all been confirmed to return to the dance floor.

Also returning alongside them are Aljaž Škorjanec, Jowita Przystał, Johannes Radebe, Nancy Xu and Kai Widdrington.

They will be joined by Carlos Gu, Lauren Oakley, Vito Coppola, Alexis Warr and Julian Caillon – the latter two of whom joined the professionals line-up in 2025.

Strictly Come Dancing 2026 begins on BBC One and iPlayer later this year.

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