The Strictly: It Takes Two presenter loves her job and being a mum.
Strictly fever has taken over the nation’s TV screens once more.
After the double bill of live shows on Friday and Saturday, tomorrow sees the return of sister show Strictly Come Dancing It Takes Two.
Zoe Ball is back on presenting duties, and, having seen all the celebrities take to the floor for the first time, she reckons it’s still too early to make any definitive judgments.
“You can never tell who will be brilliant, or not, until they’ve done a couple of dances together,” says Zoe. “Some are shy initially and some are brilliant immediately. It’s better to be a grower.
“Everybody loves a journey and seeing the hard work and improvement. Some are funnier when they’re not as perfect but so entertaining that we still really love to watch them.”
Having competed back on the third series of Strictly and hosted It Takes Two for the past three years, Zoe has a shrewd eye for who will go far.
Try and pin her down, though, and she’ll rattle through virtually the entire cast of the show. But there are obviously a couple that have caught her attention.
“I think Thom Evans and Iveta could be fab,” she admits. “He’s fit and he looks like he can move. Iveta danced with my dad and was also brilliant with Mark Benton last year.
“Jake Wood and Janette look good and I want Scott Mills to do well as he’s a mate.”
Strictly is a sure sign that autumn is here and Zoe, who has two kids, Woody and Nelly, with DJ and musician husband Norman Cook, says the timing works perfectly.
“I love being busy with my job and the kids,” confesses the 43-year-old Hove-based presenter. “It takes some good organisational skill and some wonderful support from Norm.
“We have a good deal going, though. He’s busier in the summer festival season and I’m busier in the autumn. The balance seems to work well.”
There’s certainly plenty of work as, with the show being on each weekday, Zoe reckons there are 65 live half-hours to get through between now and late December.
But the affection for the manic show that analyses the weekend’s highlights and looks forward to the next one is clear.
“I love presenting It Takes Two. We’re the naughty little sister programme to Tess and Claudia’s big Saturday night show.
“We have so much fun with the celebs and their dance partners and it’s always great to gossip.”
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