BBC Strictly bosses ‘torn’ between two female presenters to become new host

Strictly Come Dancing is set to return later this year with brand new presenters after Tess Daly and Claudia decided to quit the BBC programme at the end of 2025

Zoe Ball and Emma Willis are reportedly vying for the same presenting role on Strictly Come Dancing.

The BBC Saturday evening staple was fronted by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman for more than ten years, but they revealed their intention to step down during the previous series.

With the show’s anticipated comeback later this year, radio presenter Zoe, 55, and former Big Brother host Emma, 49, are allegedly competing for the coveted position, though only one will succeed as executives are seeking someone “a bit more left field” for the companion role.

An insider revealed: “It’s a straight shoot-out between Zoe, who is the front-runner, and Emma. Only one will get it, not both. The senior execs want a traditional presenter working alongside a more left-field person, a female stand-up comedian.”

Viewers can also anticipate the programme’s comedic elements to persist in Claudia’s tradition, who has also achieved tremendous success with fellow BBC programme The Traitors.

Speaking to The Sun, the source continued: “It’s felt the humour Claudia brought to the show, particularly in her ‘Claudatorium’, needs to carry on.”

Zoe has previously presented It Takes Two and even filled the primary co-hosting position on Strictly Come Dancing for three weeks in 2014 when Claudia took temporary leave.

Beyond Big Brother, Emma has fronted numerous television programmes throughout her broadcasting journey, currently co-hosting Cooking With the Stars alongside Tom Allen and the Netflix sensation Love Is Blind with her spouse Matt, reports the Mirror.

She occasionally steps in as a presenter on This Morning and previously held the anchor position on Loose Women for a brief stint.

Following Tess and Claudia’s departure announcement, numerous high-profile entertainment figures have been touted as potential successors, with Chris and Rosie Ramsay, Rylan Clark, Holly Willoughby, Amanda Holden and Angela Scanlon among the many names being bandied about.

The original announcement featured a video of the presenting duo seated together, with Claudia opening: “Hi, it’s Claud and Tess. There have been some rumblings, and we want you to hear this from us…” Tess chimed in: “Yeah, we have news. After 21 wonderfully joyful years on Strictl,y we have decided the time is right to step aside and pass on the baton..

“The very sparkly baton…” Claudia interjected before turning to Tess and remarking: “You’ve been here since the beginning…” Tess, who originally co-presented alongside the late Bruce Forsyth, responded: “2004 with Brucey – lovely Bruce.

“That’s over two decades ago and a lot of that time has been with you. It’s been a huge part of our lives, hasn’t it? Since our children were literally babes in arms and now they’re young adults and I think, genuinely we have cherished every second.”

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Claudia chimed in: “We have, we’re so lucky to have been part of this amazing show and we just want to thank the Strictly team because Strictly is the people who make it so thank you…” Tess concurred: “They are the very best team in television we’ve been so lucky.

“And the audience as well, they’ve been so wonderful. They’ve been with us for this entire journey of 21 years and we wouldn’t have a show without them and they’ve been just so loyal and supportive.”

Claudia reiterated: “We have, we’re so lucky to have been part of this amazing show and we just want to thank the Strictly team because Strictly is the people who make it so thank you…” Tess agreed once more: “They are the very best team in television we’ve been so lucky.”

The Star has reached out to Strictly Come Dancing representatives for comment.

Strictly Come Dancing is expected to return to BBC One and BBC iPlayer later this year