Zoe Ball has opened up about her new radio position following her unsuccessful bid for a presenting role on Strictly Come Dancing. From September 7, the 55-year-old will front a new weekday afternoon programme on Greatest Hits Radio.
Mixed Emotions About New Role
Discussing the position on the Dig It podcast, which she co-hosts with Jo Whiley, Zoe confessed she has conflicting emotions as she braces herself for the "scary" new phase of her professional life. "I'm so excited," she disclosed. "You know how it's been, I lost [my] mum and I was like, 'I want to take some time to be there for my girl' [her daughter Nelly] because I've always worked and never been around."
"And, as I've sort of said on the podcast actually, I've been around and she's a bit like, 'What are you still doing here?' And she's finished her GCSEs now, she's loving her freedom and I think also when the [Strictly Come] Dancing thing didn't happen as well, I was a bit like, 'Right, what am I going to do?'"
Strictly Snub Led to 'Grief'
Earlier this year, Zoe also tried out to become one of the new presenters of Strictly Come Dancing, but was unsuccessful. It has subsequently been confirmed that Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe will assume presenting responsibilities from Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. Speaking about the setback, Zoe revealed on the podcast: "I didn't get it, but it's okay. I have worked through the seven stages of grief and rejection over the last couple of days."
Prior to the new presenters being revealed, she commented at the time: "If it's 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."
New Radio Show Details
Addressing the attraction of her new 1pm to 4pm time slot, Zoe stated the opportunity was too appealing to reject. "It's a lovely shift, it's 1 until 4, which is great because it means I get to be mum in the morning and mum in the evening, if I need to, and be around if she needs me, so that's good," she continued. The programme is Zoe's first venture on Greatest Hits Radio, where she will become part of a roster that includes her former BBC Radio 2 colleagues Ken Bruce and Simon Mayo.
"I get nervous about being the new girl again, but it's all good," she admitted. "I'll be playing great music from the 70s, 80s and 90s. At Greatest Hits Radio, they are a lovely team, they are such a brilliant team. They are such a brilliant station, they're really good folk and they have taken me on." She continued: "It was just too good to turn down, I was like, 'Actually this is great', so I'm going to be back behind the mic, five days a week. We will still be podding, do not fear diggers!"
Gratitude to BBC Radio 2
Zoe also seized the moment to express gratitude to her BBC Radio 2 colleagues for their backing throughout the years, offering particular commendation to the station's head, Helen Thomas. The broadcaster formerly presented BBC Radio 2's Breakfast Show before transitioning to a Saturday afternoon slot.
