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Zoe Ball was today announced as the new presenter for Â鶹Éç Two's Strictly Come Dancing – It Takes Two, the sister show to Â鶹Éç One's Saturday night spectacular.

As a former Strictly contestant, Zoe is a self-confessed dancing fan, who knows a thing or two about fancy footwork and has experienced the drama of competing in the series first-hand.

Speaking about her new role on It Takes Two, Zoe said: "I am quite literally beyond elation! There has been quite a hullabaloo at home with the news. I'm giddy with glee and I may even have slipped momentarily into a celebratory Cha Cha Cha, although technically not a very good one!

"Having been a contestant myself and having hosted the Strictly Come Dancing Tour, it would be fair to say I'm obsessed with the whole dance phenomenon, I love everything Strictly, from watching the partnerships blossom and bloom to the tricky footwork, the frocks and the shock exits, and of course the judges.

"Physically and metaphorically I may have trouble fitting my huge feet into Claudia's tiny wee shoes, she is one fabulous lady, but I will do my best to bring all the ups and downs and laughter and tears behind the nation's favourite show to the fans. I can't wait to start this thrilling adventure. Such fun!"

Zoe will be slipping into her dancing shoes this autumn to bring viewers all the latest backstage drama and gossip, exclusive interviews and news from training sessions on this year's Strictly dancers and their celebrity partners.

She appeared in series three of Strictly in 2005, where she came third in the competition with her professional partner Ian Waite, behind runner-up Colin Jackson and series winner Darren Gough

Moira Ross, Executive Producer, Strictly Come Dancing, said: "Zoe is a fantastic presenter and I'm delighted that she is joining It Takes Two. With her first-hand experience of the series, she's the perfect person to give viewers all the insider knowledge, gossip and news from this year's show."

It Takes Two returns in the autumn, weekdays on Â鶹Éç Two, for viewers eager to get their Strictly fix.

The show is commissioned by Liam Keelan, Controller, Â鶹Éç Daytime and the Executive Producer for Â鶹Éç Daytime is Pam Cavannagh. The series is made by Â鶹Éç In-House Entertainment Productions.

Zoe currently hosts the Â鶹Éç Radio 2 early Saturday morning breakfast show from 6-8am. She started her broadcasting career in radio, and was the first woman to front the Â鶹Éç Radio 1 Breakfast Show alone – a show for which she won a Sony Radio Award. Her television presenting career began on CÂ鶹Éç and moved on to shows such as The Big Breakfast (Channel 4), Live And Kicking (Â鶹Éç One), The Priory (Channel 4) and Strictly Dance Fever (Â鶹Éç Three).

RB