Rebecca Cook
Published December 20, 2025 5:04pm
Updated December 20, 2025 5:04pm
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Zoe Ball took to the BBC Radio 2 airwaves for her sort-of station swansong (Picture: BBC/PA Wire)
Zoe Ball dodged a line of questioning from Romesh Ranganathan on Saturday, as she bid farewell to her BBC Radio 2 slot.
The presenter, 55, announced she would be leaving her afternoon gig, following her decision to step back from the breakfast show.
Ball took to the airwaves for what was her sort-of station swansong, since she has said she’ll be back to host certain specials.
Ranganathan was handing over the reins to Ball for her last show, when he compared her exit to a ‘death in the family’.
The long-time Radio 2 fixture promised she ‘won’t be a stranger’, before Ranganathan seemingly touched on reports that Ball is in the conversation to take over Strictly Come Dancing hosting duties from Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.
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The duo shocked the TV-watching nation when they announced that this 2025 series of the show would be their last at the helm.
The presenter is reportedly in the conversation to take over Strictly Come Dancing hosting (Picture: Aaron Chown/PA Wire)
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Previous Page Next PageRanganathan said: ‘Is it true you’re leaving your Saturday show because of…’ He trailed off before quipping, ‘Sally on traffic. It’s that. Let’s put that down now.’
Ball played along – although clearly avoided the leading question about what she might be up to next – saying: ‘Sally and I have been in love with each other for a long time and we’ve decided we can’t possibly work in the same building anymore because the magnetism is too much.’
It comes after Ball’s name was one in a 10-strong list of showbiz contenders reportedly assembled by Strictly as potential successors to Winkleman and Daly.
The full reported Strictly shortlist
- Bradley Walsh
- Alex Jones
- Alan Carr
- Rylan Clark
- Rob Rinder
- Zoe Ball
- Holly Willoughby
- Amanda Holden
- Alison Hammond
- Angela Scanlon
This will be Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly’s last season on the show (Picture: BBC/Guy Levy)
A TV insider has told The Sun that the BBC is undertaking the ‘mammoth task’ of replacing the pair and has drawn up a shortlist of ten potential presenters.
Comment now Who do you think should take over as Strictly host? Have your say in the comments belowComment NowThe frontrunners are said to be Bradley Walsh, Alex Jones and Alan Carr, with a reported chemistry day in the offing to test out possible pairings.
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The source told the publication: ‘They will go to a studio and be put into different pairs to see who works together best.
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‘It could be two women or two men paired, or a mix. They will ultimately choose whoever has the best chemistry in each partnership.’
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