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Zoe Ball to Leave Radio 2’s Saturday Lunchtime Show as Emma Willis Takes Over in January

She will stay on for specials, starting with an Eras series on Phil Collins launching 19 January on BBC Sounds and 25 January on Radio 2.

Overview

  • Ball announced the change live on air on 13 December, confirming her final Saturday 1–3pm programme will be on 20 December.
  • Emma Willis will front a new live Saturday 1–3pm show from January 2026, taking over the slot Ball has held since May.
  • Radio 2 chief Helen Thomas welcomed Willis to the lineup, saying listeners would embrace the new show as part of 'Superstar Saturday.'
  • Ball left the Radio 2 breakfast programme in December 2024 to focus on family and returned in May 2025 to a weekend role.
  • Willis previously hosted on Heart from 2012 to 2018 and has been a Radio 2 cover presenter since 2019.