Zoe Ball has been widely praised for her gracious reaction after the BBC announced Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe and Johannes Radebe as the new hosts of Strictly Come Dancing. The trio will replace Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman from September 2026, marking the first time the show will have three hosts.
Ball, who previously hosted the spin-off It Takes Two, revealed earlier this month that she had been rejected for the role. Speaking on her Dig It podcast, she said: 'I didn’t get it, but it’s OK. I have worked through the seven stages of grief and rejection over the last couple of days.' She added that the new hosts were 'in safe hands' and would be 'fabulous'.
Following the official announcement on Instagram, Ball commented: 'CREW. Congrats Emma Jojo and Josh. You're gonna ROCK IT.' Fans quickly praised her positivity, with one calling her 'a class act' and another saying she was 'so lovely'. Many expressed disappointment she did not get the job, with some hoping she might return to It Takes Two.
The new hosting line-up was confirmed after months of speculation, with other names including Rylan Clark, Alison Hammond and Amanda Holden also linked to the role. The 2026 series will be the first without Daly and Winkleman, who stepped down after the 2025 season.
