ZOE Ball has confirmed she failed to land a hosting role on Strictly Come Dancing, admitting the rejection hit hard after what she called “the seven stages of grief and rejection”.
The former It Takes Two presenter was among a star-studded line-up who auditioned for the coveted spots left vacant by Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman.
Emma Willis has been confirmed as one of the new hosts, while Zoe and others including Rylan Clark, Angela Scanlon, Alex Jones, Miranda Hart and Fleur East missed out.
Zoe told The Sun: “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 she was thrilled for the new hosts and confident they would be “fabulous”.
An insider revealed the BBC’s decision came down to chemistry tests, pairing hopefuls in various combinations to find the right fit on screen.
Some stars took the news better than others, with one “big star” reportedly left sobbing after being convinced they had the job in the bag.
Zoe said she was proud to have made it into the mix and enjoyed her final stint with a show she clearly adores.
Angela Scanlon appeared to hint at her own disappointment with a reflective Instagram post about finding small joys amid chaos.
With the new line-up set to be unveiled soon, Zoe’s graceful acceptance shows the tough nature of TV casting but also her enduring love for Strictly.