Zoe Ball,the veteran broadcaster who left BBC Radio 2 at the end of 2023, has secured a new role at Greatest Hits Radio after failing to land the hosting job for the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing. ball, 55, will join the commercial station this autumn, according to a report from The Sun, reuniting with former BBC colleagues Ken Bruce and Simon Mayo.

The Greatest Hits Radio reunion:Ken Bruce and Simon Mayo await Ball

The move places Ball on a station that has become a destination for ex-BBC radio talent. Ken Bruce joined Greatest Hits Radio in 2023 after three decades at BBC Radio 2 , and Simon Mayo moved to the same outlet in 2022. According to a source cited by The Sun, Ball had been courted by the station for some time and accepted the offer promptly once the Strictly opportunity went elsewhere. The source said Ball is “can’t wait to get started” at her new commercial home, highlighting her passion for radio.

Why the Strictly hosting job went to a trio instead of one name

Instead of Ball, the BBC selected a three-person team to replace long-serving duo Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman, who both stepped away from the show last year. Emma Willis, Josh Widdicombe, and Johannes Radebe will take over for the 24th series, breaking the two-host tradition that had held for 22 years. According to The Sun’s reoprt, nine celebrities were shortlisted and summoned to a secret London location for full-scale dress rehearsals with a judging panel and live band. The chosen trio emerged after extensive testing, with Ball herself revealing in an interview that she participated in screen tests alongside Widdicombe.

What about the other six shortlisted candidates?

The source did not disclose the names of the remaining six shortlisted stars, beyond noting that Rylan Clark, Tom Allen, and Alex Jones were among them. It remains unclear whether those candidates were considered for other roles on the show or have moved on entirely. Ball’s own public comments—she joked about “working through the seven stages of grief and rejection”—suggest the competition was fierce, but no further details about alternative offers have emerged.

Ball’s next chapter: Radio without the camera

Ball addressed the rejection with characteristic humor, telling her “Dig It” podcast that she was relieved not to face the camera, quipping, “I don’t have to have a facelift,so I’m quite happy.” She insisted the BBC made the “right decision” and expressed thrill for Willis , Widdicombe, and Radebe. the new Greatest Hits Radio show marks her first permanent presenting post since exiting Radio 2, and she joins a stable of established broadcasters at a station that has been aggressively poaching BBC talent. What remains unknown is the specific schedule or format of Ball’s show, which has not been announced.