Zoe Ball appeared to hint that there will be more than two new hosts of Strictly Come Dancing this year.
The DJ, 55, shared her “grief and rejection” over losing out on one of the hosting roles after being considered for the job by BBC bosses.
Producers have been trying to find a replacement for longtime presenters Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman ever since they left the dance competition last year.
Ball discussed being rejected from the major TV job on the latest episode of her Dig It podcast with Jo Whiley.
And while she admitted she is experiencing the “seven stages of grief”, the broadcaster also seemed to drop a huge clue about the new hosts.
Ball suggested there could be multiple “fabulous” presenters of the glitterball show.
She raised eyebrows by saying she was “so thrilled” for the “gang” that got the job.
“I didn't get it, but it's OK,” Ball told her friend Whiley.
The star - who left her Radio 2 job in 2025 - went on: “I have worked through the seven stages of grief and rejection over the last couple of days.
“No, I didn't get it, but I tell you, what, if who I think has got it, we're in safe hands and our new hosts are going to be fabulous. I'm so thrilled for them, and hopefully at a later date, we'll be able to talk about them in more detail.”
Sharing more details about the role, she added: “I was so chuffed to even be in the mix. There were some pretty amazing people who didn't even make it into the mix.
“So I made it in the mix, and I had a really fun time having one last little play at a show that I love and adore. And I'm so thrilled for the gang that has got it.
“I think there's been so many eyes on this whole process, everyone's quite relieved now that a decision has been made and the right decision has been made.”
A BBC spokesperson told The Standard: "Plans for Strictly Come Dancing 2026 will be confirmed in due course."
Another hosting candidate was reportedly left “sobbing” after failing to land the job.
A source told The Sun: “The television industry is cut-throat. From the off, the BBC had their favourites but they knew they couldn’t just shoe-horn in who they wanted — it had to come down to the chemistry tests. The celebs were put into mix-and-match pairs.
“The people who didn’t get offered the job just weren’t the right fit.
“Some have taken it better than others. One big star who was tipped from day one has been sobbing about it — they were convinced the job was theirs for the taking.
“They genuinely thought they’d the best chance but when it came down to what it felt like on screen, it didn’t work. Sadly, that’s the nature of the business and no amount of soggy Kleenexes will change the decision.”
It comes as Emma Willis was reportedly offered one of the Strictly hosting jobs after “nailing the chemistry tests” in the gruelling auditions.
She was thought to be one of the nine celebrities shortlisted for the audition process, including Rylan Clark, Tom Allen, podcast host Angela Scanlon and One Show presenter Alex Jones.
Also in the running was This Morning host Alison Hammond, The Chase presenter Bradley Walsh, RuPaul's Drag Race star La Voix and Zoe Ball.
In January, Ball said she would “love” to host Strictly.
She hosted Strictly’s spin-off 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.
