After months of speculation over Strictly Come Dancing’s new hosts, frontrunner Zoe Ball has revealed that she’s waltzed her way out of the running.
The former It Takes Two host and Strictly contestant was rumoured to be replacing hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman following their exit last year, with ex-Big Brother presenter Emma Willis set to present alongside her in the new series.
However, Ball has reportedly confirmed that she failed to land the gig after auditions earlier this month.
“I didn’t get it, but it’s OK,” she says on a forthcoming episode of her podcast, Dig It, according to The Sun.
“I have worked through the seven stages of grief and rejection over the last couple of days.”
She added that producers have made “the right decision”, based on who she thinks beat her to the role.
“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,” she said.
“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.”
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Ball continued: “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.”
The Independent has reached out to Zoe Ball and the BBC for comment.
The former BBC Radio 2 presenter isn’t the only star who’s no longer up for the role, with The Sun also claiming that Angela Scanlon, Alex Jones and Rylan Clark also failed to land a part on the show. It added that a formal announcement will be made once the Eurovision Song Contest final has aired.
Earlier this week, it was reported that Willis had become one of Strictly’s new hosts after “absolutely nailing the chemistry tests”.
The BBC previously told The Independent that plans for Strictly Come Dancing 2026 will be announced in due course, with preparations for the series currently underway.