Zoe Ball has announced her departure from her Saturday show on BBC Radio 2.
During her broadcast, Ball revealed that Emma Willis will be taking over the role, describing the broadcaster as a “superwoman.”
“I love you all to bits, but I’m not disappearing completely,” she assured her listeners.
Ball’s final show is scheduled for December 20th. While she will continue to host special programs for the station, she previously concluded her nearly six-year tenure as host of the Radio 2 breakfast show last December, before returning to present the Saturday programme between 13:00 and 15:00 GMT.
Speaking on Saturday’s show, Ball, 55, stated: “I have loved being betwixt my dear friends Romesh (Ranganathan) and Rylan (Clark), and you know, I love you all to bits, but I’m not disappearing completely.
“Obviously, it’ll be Christmas Crooners and I’m doing an eras show in the new year, more on that later.”
Ball expressed her “thrill” at the announcement of Willis as her successor for the Saturday afternoon slot, referring to her as “a superwoman who is no stranger to you all”.
She added that Willis, known for her work on shows such as The Voice, Big Brother, and Love Is Blind, “will officially become a member of the Radio 2 family.”
In a statement, Willis, 49, said: “I’m absolutely chuffed to be joining the family – and it’s a real honour to follow in the huge footsteps Zoe leaves behind, who’s someone I admire and adore.”
She mentioned that she would miss listening to Ball but would “happily be the filling to a Romesh and Rylan sandwich.”
Willis previously hosted a show on Heart Radio from 2012 to 2018 and has worked as a cover presenter on Radio 2 since 2019.
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