Mills, who currently hosts Radio 2’s afternoon slot, will still be handsomely paid.
In the 2023-24 pay list, his salary was £320,000, which will be boosted when he moves to the breakfast slot. Ball’s show is currently the most listened to radio programme in the UK with an audience of 6.28 million. However, it is the lowest figure for her show in the three years since publication of listening figures resumed after a pause due to the pandemic. In 2021, Ball had an audience of 7.22 million.
At present, Mills is the 16th highest-paid BBC star and Ball is the second, behind Lineker. With the removal of Edwards, the next highest paid presenter is Greg James, who earns £420,000 as host of Radio 1’s breakfast show.
The highest paid executive in 2023-24 was Tim Davie, the director general. He received a total of £527,000 in salary and taxable benefits.
In her announcement, Ball thanked her bosses “for their support, especially this year”. Her mother, Julia Peckham, died from cancer in April, and the presenter took extended leave over the summer.
Ball has a daughter, Nelly, 14, and a son, Woody, 24, from her marriage to Norman Cook, the DJ known as Fatboy Slim.
She will present her last show on Dec 20, promising “plenty of fun and shenanigans”.
Ball said: “While I’m stepping away from the breakfast show, I’m not disappearing entirely – I’ll still be a part of the Radio 2 family, with more news in the New Year.
“I’m excited to embrace my next chapter, including being a mum in the mornings, and I can’t wait to tune in on the school run.”
Helen Thomas, head of Radio 2, said: “Zoe has woken up the nation in Radio 2 with incredible warmth, wit and so much joy since January 2019, and I’d like to thank her for approaching each show with as much vim and vigour as if it were her first. I’m thrilled that she’ll remain an important part of the Radio 2 family.”