Fans of the long-running BBC show were blindsided in October when hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman abruptly announced they were quitting.

Zoe Ball’s father, Johnny Ball, has confirmed she is ‘in the mix’ to be the new host of Strictly Come Dancing(Image: Mirror)

Zoe Ball is set to be the next host of Strictly Come Dancing – according to her dad.

Fans of the long-running BBC show were blindsided in October when hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman abruptly announced they were quitting after years of service. As the search for the new hosts of Strictly Come Dancing intensifies, kids’ TV legend Johnny Ball said his DJ daughter Zoe is “in the mix” for the role.

Ball, 87, has shared his own intel on the likelihood his radio host daughter will take the reigns. Zoe is a favourite having competed on Strictly in 2005 and after hosting spin-off show It Takes Two from 2011 until 2021.

Discussing the prospect of Zoe advancing to host the main show, Johnny told the Express: “Nothing’s going to be decided until after Easter, but she’s in the mix, and people are coming to her, but it’s too early to say.”

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He added: “I think she would love it, I think she would love the job because she took over from Claudia on It Takes Two, and if anything, she did a better job than Claudia.”

Johnny’s update comes after Zoe stoked speculation she will host Strictly when she shared a horoscope message on Instagram that promised big changes for Sagittarians in 2026. The post stated: “It will be a powerful year for you. There’s a lot of newness and freshness coming into your life. There’s a lot to feel and heal.”

The caption continued: “You’re clearing a lot of old karma this year, karma that is older than you in this life, karma that encompasses much larger cycles of who you are. You are being asked to find your way back home, to where you belong within yourself.”

And it concluded: “This year wants you to unlearn so many things and meet yourself in an organic and raw way, without any filters or glitters, just to experience yourself clean and clear.”

This came after Zoe quit her Radio 2 show – with her final live show airing yesterday, Saturday 20 December 2025. She told listeners: “I have loved being betwixt my dear friends Romesh (Ranganathan) and Rylan (Clark), and you know, I love you all to bits, but I’m not disappearing completely.

“Obviously, it’ll be Christmas Crooners and I’m doing an eras show in the new year, more on that later. But I am thrilled to tell you that you will be in the safest of hands, because there is a super woman who is no stranger to you all, but this does mean that she will officially become a member of the Radio 2 family.

“You’ll have loved her on The Voice, The Circle, Big Brother, Cooking With The Stars, Love Is blind, and delivering babies, she’s a gorgeous lass so welcome to the BBC Radio 2 family and Saturday afternoons, Emma Willis.”

Hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly abruptly quit Strictly Come Dancing this year(Image: BBC)

Tess and Claudia also broadcast their final episode of Strictly on Saturday – bowing out after 21 years, in the case of Tess, and 15 for Claudia. In an emotional post-show social media post, Tess thanked viewers for their years of support.

She wrote on Instagram: “Strictly is a show that is made with love, where joy is the currency and the only agenda. That love is down to every single member of the brilliant team that makes it, because to none of them is it just a job. It is a gift, and it is truly treasured.”

She continued: “I will be forever grateful for the unforgettable years I have spent sharing this magical show with you. I’ll miss the Strictly viewers, because they are the very best, the most loyal and supportive, and as passionate about the show as I have always been. It has been the most wonderful privilege to have shared it with you all for so many years.”

She concluded: “Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the memories of a lifetime.” And Claudia responded to the post with a string of red heart emojis which she left in the comments section.