Zoe Ball has said people still tease her about her 1994 interview with Oasis, and revealed she felt 'grief and rejection' after missing out on hosting Strictly Come Dancing.
The 55-year-old broadcaster, the first female host of both BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 2 breakfast shows, stepped down from her Radio 2 show in December 2025, with Emma Willis taking over. Months later, she said she experienced 'grief and rejection' after not landing the Strictly host job.
On Emma Willis and career evolution
'Emma's amazing, we've known each other for years. It's what happens,' she told Metro. 'People do shows for a while, and then someone else does a show for a while. If Claudia Winkleman hadn't stepped aside on It Takes Two, I'd never have got to do it. If Emma Forbes hadn't left Live & Kicking, I would never have got to do it. So, it's just a natural progression in radio and television. It's what happens. It's wonderful. And you need that evolution in telly.'
Now working on Greatest Hits Radio, Ball said she feels 'really lucky' to have interviewed some of the biggest names in the business over the last 30 years.
On tricky interviews and favourites
'Occasionally you get people who are a bit monosyllabic or not in the mood for a chat. More of the nightmares are technical, like when the tape wasn't running and you've done a really good interview and you've done your best work, but on the whole, I've talked to all sorts of amazing people that I'm proud of,' she said.
'I suppose Madonna was quite tricky because it was a bit scary and intimidating. Some of my favourites, particularly, are Barbara Streisand, Dame Julie Andrews, and Dame Judi Dench. I call them my Holy Trinity. I love speaking to Sir Paul McCartney. He always has stories to tell and he's really generous with his time.'
On the Oasis interview and family
One interview in particular is brought up time and time again: her 1994 chat with Noel and Liam Gallagher for the BBC music show The O-Zone, shortly after the release of their debut album Definitely Maybe.
'People take the mickey out of me for that interview everywhere I go,' she laughed. 'And my kids always ask "Mum, what are you wearing?" I was wearing a Kangol hat and a tracksuit top!'
'But they were so charismatic, both Noel and Liam. I just remember being so in awe of them. There is something about them. I haven't interviewed them together in a long time, but whenever either of them would come on my radio show, you just knew you were going to have so much fun.'
'They're really open and honest, brutally so sometimes. But they are great lads and I'm a huge fan. It was amazing to go and see them live last year, it was an emotional night. I'm going to a screening of the documentary soon and can't wait. I really do adore them.'
Ball said her daughter Nelly, 16, is going to Reading Festival for the first time this year. 'She's 16 and you can't help but worry. She's probably bored of me telling her to hydrate and have a nap. I've told her it's okay to step back from the crowd if you get a bit overwhelmed,' she said.
'Woody loves festivals and we've watched him work really hard over the last few years. He drives all over the country and does six or seven gigs in a weekend. It's kind of in his blood. He grew up seeing how much we loved going to Glastonbury and came with us when he was very young.'
Ball joins Vodafone, the Official Connectivity Partner of Pepsi MAX presents Reading Festival, to help families connect inside and outside the festival with the first ever Check-In & Chips van, turning a quick message home into a win-win: parents get the reassurance they're looking for, while festivalgoers get a fun photobooth experience and a complimentary portion of chips.
