Emma Willis has reportedly been confirmed as one-half of the new Strictly Come Dancing hosting duo.
BBC bosses have been scrambling to find a replacement for Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman ever since they left the ballroom show last year.
Several names have been thrown into the mix, including Willis, Angela Scanlon, Alison Hammond, Rylan Clark and Zoe Ball.
Now, it’s been claimed Willis – who had secret heart surgery last year – has been offered the hosting job and the “thrilled” presenter is going to accept.
“She absolutely nailed the chemistry tests and the BBC adore her. Emma is a household name and a safe pair of hands so the BBC know she will do the job justice,” a source told The Sun.
“She’s incredibly popular with the public too and will suit the role down to a tee. She was absolutely thrilled to have been offered the job.”
Zoe Ball, 55, will reportedly be asked to join Willis, 50, in the new presenting duo.
“Emma is seen as the Tess of the duo. Her background in live – and occasionally tense – broadcasting situations means she can handle anything that is thrown at her,” the source said.
Ball and Willis “really clicked” during the gruelling audition process and Ball is being lined up to take on the role of Claudia Winkleman, according to the outlet.
The Standard has contacted Willis’ representative and the BBC for comment.
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.
She also stepped in as the main show’s host for a number of weeks in 2014 to replace Winkleman, who had to take time off to look after one of her children.
Ball left her BBC Radio 2 show in December 2025.
Speaking about Strictly, she added: “This is the hilarious thing, it’s all anyone talks to me about.
“At the moment I am in mourning for Tess and Claud because I love those girls. I think everyone’s name is being thrown into the mix.
“I love that show. I loved performing on it with Ian Waite, who is one of my best buddies.
“It’s so joyful, and it’s live telly, which is another thing that people don’t give the girls enough credit for. That show is a beast. Whoever gets to do it has a tough act to follow.”
Last month, it was claimed nine shortlisted stars were summoned to a secret location in London to audition for the Strictly roles.
They faced off in chemistry tests during dress rehearsals with a judging panel and a live band, The Sun reported.
The celebrities who auditioned were thought to be Rylan Clark, Emma Willis, Tom Allen, podcast host Angela Scanlon and One Show presenter Alex Jones.
Also in the callbacks were This Morning host Alison Hammond, The Chase presenter Bradley Walsh, RuPaul’s Drag Race star La Voix and Zoe Ball.
Winkleman and Daly announced that they will step down from Strictly after 21 years in a joint statement on Instagram.
Daly had fronted Strictly since it launched in 2004 with Sir Bruce Forsyth, while Winkleman became her full-time co-host in 2014 after first hosting the spin-off series the year it began.
