Zoe Ball is set to a join BBC’s ‘rival radio station’ after failing to land one of the two Strictly Come Dancing hosting jobs.
The 55-year-old presenter has been lined up for Greatest Hits Radio, following in the footsteps of former BBC colleagues Simon Mayo and Ken Bruce.
A source told The Sun: “Greatest Hits have wanted her for a while and as soon as Zoe found out about not getting the Strictly job, she decided to take it.
“She absolutely loves being a radio presenter and after stepping away from her BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show a year ago, she took time to think about what she wanted.”
Ball is set to start her new role at the radio station in the Autumn, according to the newspaper.
The presenter, who previously hosted Strictly spin-off It Takes Two, was tipped as a front-runner to get the other gig and was thought to have taken part in the gruelling audition process.
But, she later revealed she did not get the job, and was “working through the seven stages of grief and rejection”.
“I didn't get it, but it's OK,” she said on her Dig It podcast with Jo Whiley, last month.
“I have worked through the seven stages of grief and rejection over the last couple of days.
“No, I didn't get it, but I tell you, what, if 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.”
TV presenter Emma Willis, comedian Josh Widdicombe and professional dancer Johannes Radebe have been named as the new presenters of the hit BBC show.
In January, Ball said she would “love” to host Strictly.
She told the Sunday Times: “Obviously there’s part of me that would love to do it. But I will still be watching, whoever hosts it.”
Ball hosted Strictly’s sister show It Takes Two for 10 series between 2011 and 2020, having appeared as a contestant on the show in series three in 2005, when she finished in third place with her professional partner Ian Waite.
