Zoe Ball steps down from her BBC Radio 2 Saturday show

Zoe Ball is stepping down from presenting her BBC Radio 2 Saturday show.

Announcing her departure on air, she said she would be replaced by broadcaster Emma Willis who she described as a “superwoman”.

“I love you all to bits, but I’m not disappearing completely,” she told listeners.

Ball’s final show is set for 20 December, although she will continue to host specials on the station. She left her Radio 2 breakfast show last December after almost six years in the role, before returning to present the 13:00 to 15:00 GMT Saturday programme.

Speaking on the show on Saturday, Ball, 55, said: “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 said she was “thrilled” to announce that Willis would take over the Saturday afternoon slot, “a superwoman who is no stranger to you all”.

She added that the new host – known for shows including 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 said that she would miss listening to Ball but will “happily be the filling to a Romesh and Rylan sandwich”.

Willis hosted a show on Heart Radio from 2012 to 2018 and has presented on Radio 2 as a cover presenter since 2019.