Zoe Ball admits ‘I don’t have to have a facelift’ as she addresses BBC Strictly snub

BBC Radio star Zoe Ball has opened up about not landing the new Strictly Come Dancing hosting role.

The BBC has officially announced Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe, and Johannes Radebe as the new presenting team for Strictly Come Dancing, after the exit of long-time hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.

BBC Radio favourite Zoe Ball was among the names who ultimately missed out on a role in the revamped line-upreports the Express.

The 55-year-old has since revealed she harbours no regrets about not landing the role, telling The Sun: “I screen tested with Josh and he is hilarious. He is going to be so good.

“Emma is just gorgeous, and I love Johannes, so they are going to ace it. And I don’t have to have a facelift, so I’m quite happy.”

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Zoe Ball has opened up about missing out on Strictly(Image: Getty)

Speaking alongside her Dig It podcast co-host Jo Whiley at The Podcast Show 2026, she went on to say: “For Jo and I, it’s hell. We both hate being in vision, that’s why we really loved doing radio.

“Then they started filming that. They film everything. And as we get older, we’re like, ‘dim the lights!’ We’d happily never be filmed again.”

Fellow radio presenter Sara Cox was another who didn’t make the cut, sharing on her Tuesday BBC Radio 2 Teatime show: “I tried out for Strictly. And I will say I tried out for it two days after I got offered my number one, all-time, dream job of the Radio 2 Breakfast Show.”

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Emma Willis is one of the new Strictly hosts(Image: Getty)

“So I was like, ‘Oh, I’ll go along and try for Strictly as well, why not, and what next? News at Ten?’ So I went along, and it was the most gorgeous experience. I got into a car that was taking me to a secret destination.

“It was all hush-hush, and it was basically a bit like, you know, when you can go and play the Crystal Maze interactive game? It was like that. I was like, ‘Great, I’m going to be a Strictly presenter for an hour!’ The whole thing was really great fun.”

Three individuals are gathered in front of a purple background, with two women and one man. The woman on the left is dressed in a green gown and is smiling. The man in the center is wearing a suit and tie and is looking towards the woman on the right. The woman on the right is dressed in a black gown and is also smiling, with her hand resting on the shoulder of the man in the center.

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The new hosts of Strictly were recently announced(Image: Ray Burmiston/BBC/PA Wire)

This Morning’s Rylan Clark has also weighed in on the matter, taking to social media to share his thoughts: “Just wanted to say, as it was reported I was in ‘The Race’ for Strictly. The biggest congrats to my Emma and equal congrats to Johannes and Josh. You’re all going to have the best time. Made up for you’s.”

He continued: “This wasn’t my time, sadly, but I am extremely grateful to even have been considered. I’m taking the news really well

Strictly Come Dancing is set to make its return to BBC One later this year, though an exact broadcast date is yet to be announced.

CRE: https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/celebs-tv/zoe-ball-admits-i-dont-10981095