Showbiz

Emma and Zoe Compete for Strictly Hosting Gig

Bintano News Desk
February 7, 2026
Emma and Zoe Compete for Strictly Hosting Gig

Emma Willis and Zoe Ball could be 'set to battle it out to host Strictly Come Dancing,' it has been reported. 

Advertisement

TV stars are fighting for Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly's coveted job after the presenting duo announced their departure from the BBC show last year.

So far a number of names have been put forward for the hottest job in telly, with only one spot said to be left for either Emma or Zoe. 

Emma, 49, recently took over from Zoe, 55, on BBC Radio 2 after she stepped down from the afternoon slot after just seven months.

Meanwhile, Zoe has said she would 'love' to take on the hosting job, who previously hosted Strictly spin-off show It Takes Two until 2021. 

A source said: 'It’s a straight shoot-out between Zoe, who is the front-runner, and Emma. Only one will get it, not both.' 

Advertisement

Emma Willis (pictured in May 2025) and Zoe Ball could be 'set to battle it out to host Strictly Come Dancing,' it has been reported

Emma Willis (pictured in May 2025) and Zoe Ball could be 'set to battle it out to host Strictly Come Dancing,' it has been reported

So far a number of names have been put forward for the hottest job in telly, with only one spot said to be left for either Emma or Zoe (pictured)

So far a number of names have been put forward for the hottest job in telly, with only one spot said to be left for either Emma or Zoe (pictured)

They added to The Sun on Sunday: 'The senior execs want a traditional presenter working alongside a more left-field person, a female stand-up comedian.

'It’s felt the humour Claudia brought to the show, particularly in her "Claudatorium", needs to carry on.' 

The Daily Mail has contacted Emma Willis and Zoe Ball's representatives for comment. 

Advertisement

Emma is best known for her TV work hosting The Voice and Love Is Blind UK alongside husband and Busted star Matt Willis, 42. 

Last month, Zoe confessed she would love to take on the most sought-after job in British TV - presenting Strictly Come Dancing.

The speculation intensified when the presenter announced she was stepping down from her Saturday Radio 2 slot, leaving her weekends open for the top telly job.

But Zoe has broken her silence on the rumours, insisting that whilst she hasn't been approached yet, she would 'love' to take it on. 

'Obviously there's part of me that would love to do it,' she said. 'I love that show. I loved performing on it with Ian Waite, who is one of my best buddies. It's so joyful.'

Advertisement

TV stars are fighting for Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly's coveted job after the presenting duo announced their departure from the BBC show last year

TV stars are fighting for Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly's coveted job after the presenting duo announced their departure from the BBC show last year 

She cautioned though that it would be a mammoth task to step into her friends Claudia and Tess' shoes, pointing out 'it's live telly, which is another thing that people don't give the girls enough credit for. 

'That show is a beast. Whoever gets to do it has a tough act to follow.'

Zoe then mused to The Sunday Times Style Magazine about the 'so many brilliant' stars who she could co-host Strictly with, admitting that whilst the likes of Alan Carr and Amanda Holden have ruled themselves out 'Rylan would kill it and no one's mentioned Vernon Kay!'

Whilst Zoe feels ready to step into the Strictly shoes, she insists the potential new job isn't the reason she left her Saturday Radio 2 slot.

Advertisement

Zoe stepped away her weekend show after just seven months, after previously quitting the coveted Breakfast Show slot in late 2024.

She has explained that the move away from radio was in part due to the grief of losing her beloved mother Julia Peckham in April 2024 after a short battle with cancer with the star calling the months after her death 'a crazy, awful, hideous nightmare'.

Her grief caused her to reassess her career path and hone in on her relationships with her children Nelly, 16, and Woody, 25. 

Original Source

This article has been aggregated directly from the Daily Mail.

READ FULL STORY ON DAILY MAIL