Zoe Ball has opened up about her new radio position after losing out on a presenting role on Strictly Come Dancing. From 7 September, the 55-year-old will present a new weekday afternoon programme on Greatest Hits Radio.
Mixed Emotions on New Chapter
Discussing the position on the Dig It podcast, which she co-hosts with Jo Whiley, Zoe insisted she had mixed emotions as she prepares for the "scary" next chapter of her career.
"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?'"
"I mean that was a long shot but having not worked, you suddenly start thinking, 'Okay yeah I do need to go to work'."
New Radio Slot and Colleagues
Addressing the attraction of her new 1pm to 4pm slot, Zoe explained the position was too good of an opportunity to decline.
"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 explained.
The programme is Zoe's first venture on Greatest Hits Radio, where she will be joining 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 and Strictly Rejection
Zoe also seized the moment to express gratitude to her BBC Radio 2 team for their backing throughout the years, offering particular commendation to the station's head, Helen Thomas.
The broadcaster previously helmed BBC Radio 2's Breakfast Show before transitioning to a Saturday afternoon slot.
Earlier this year, Zoe also tried out to become one of the new presenters of Strictly Come Dancing, but was turned down. It has since 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 shared 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 said 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."
