Zoe Ball having anxiety dreams in lead up to first BBC 2 Breakfast Show

The 48-year-old will replace Chris Evans, 52, on the UK’s most listened to radio programme on Monday – becoming the first female presenter to host the slot on the station.

Ball, who also presents Strictly Come Dancing spin-off It Takes Two, said thinking about the show made her “tummy go giddy”.

She said: “It makes my tummy go giddy when I think about the first show – I just want to get on with it right now.

“I can’t quite believe it’s happening. I just hope that I can do a show that Britain wants to wake up to.”

Ball was the favourite to claim the high-profile role, fighting off competition from fellow BBC radio DJ Sara Cox.

She also admitted to being worried she will not be able to work the studio faders because her hands will be shaking too much.

She added: “I absolutely didn’t worry at all about work as I am so excited but that hasn’t stopped the anxiety dreams.

“I saw Lauren Laverne in Wogan House last week, and we compared [our anxiety dreams], so it makes me feel that I’m not on my own.”

She added: “We are piloting the show, it’s always good to practise, and it’s going really well.

“I love the team, but on Monday morning my hands are going to be shaking a lot so I’m worried about working the faders.

Evans departed Radio 2 for Virgin Radio following an emotional final broadcast on Boxing Day where he broke down crying and paid tribute to his wife and children.

The broadcaster, who had been at the BBC station since 2005, held the breakfast slot from January 2010 when he took over from Sir Terry Wogan.

Ball’s replacement on the Radio 2 Saturday afternoon show is former Big Brother presenter Ryan Neal-Clark, who has covered for Ball in her absence.

Zoe Ball begins as presenter of the Radio 2 Breakfast Show at 6.30am on January 14.