Zoe Ball misses out on Strictly Come Dancing presenting job
Zoe Ball says she has "worked through the seven stages of grief and rejection" after missing out on the chance to become one of the new hosts of Strictly Come Dancing.
Zoe Ball has revealed that she has missed out on the Strictly Come Dancing presenting job.
The 55-year-old broadcaster was tipped to be one of the replacements for Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman on the BBC’s Saturday night staple but has said that she has “worked through the seven stages of grief and rejection” after not being chosen for the gig.
Speaking on her Dig It podcast with fellow radio presenter Jo Whiley, Zoe said: “I didn’t get it, but it’s OK.
“I have worked through the seven stages of grief and rejection over the last couple of days.”
Despite her disappointment, Zoe revealed that Strictly will be in “safe hands” with its new presenters - with former Big Brother host Emma Willis thought to have secured one of the coveted roles.
The former BBC Radio 2 breakfast show host said: “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.
Zoe was one of a number of big TV stars vying for the Strictly presenting jobs and confessed that she was “chuffed to even be in the mix” alongside names such as Rylan Clark and Alex Jones.
The star - who previously presented Strictly’s spin-off show It Takes Two and competed on the programme back in 2005 - 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 into 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 so been so many eyes on the whole process, everyone’s quite relieved now that a decision has been made and the right decision has been made.”
It has been claimed that Emma, 50, is set to be unveiled as one of the new Strictly hosts and is “absolutely thrilled” to have been offered the chance to lead the BBC show into a new era - following Tess and Claudia’s departure at the end of last year’s series.
A source told The Sun newspaper: "Emma has been offered the Strictly job and is going to accept. She absolutely nailed the chemistry tests and the BBC adore her...
"She was absolutely thrilled to have been offered the job. Strictly is one of the biggest shows on television and to be trusted with the new era is something Emma feels incredibly proud and humbled by."
