HER voice cracked as she announced her departure from the Radio 2 breakfast show yesterday after almost six years.
But friends say Zoe Ball’s decision to bow out was not one that she made easily.
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The presenter, whose slot is the most listened to breakfast show in the UK, will step away from the mic on December 20 as she hands over the early morning reins to Scott Mills.
Zoe, 53, was all smiles as she left Broadcasting House in London yesterday , but pals told The Sun that her decision to go was tinged with sadness.
The death of her mum Julia in April, we are told, was a driving factor.
Zoe had stepped back from her role on the show in March to be by her mother’s side before she died.
She temporarily returned to work on August 8, before taking an extended break and returning in September.
Friends said this long period of leave gave Zoe time to think about what she really wanted in life — and that was to take a step back from the show, which was ruling her life.
The fans’ favourite had already faced an agonising loss when her partner, Billy Yates, died in 2017.
A pal said: “Zoe losing her mum was a massive thing for her and, when she stepped back for that six-week break, she had a long time to think about what she wanted.
“The death of her partner Billy in 2017 is something that also made her think recently about what she wants from her life.
“She has absolutely loved every second of hosting the breakfast show on Radio 2, but the hours are brutal, with a 4am alarm call.
“It was a decision she did not take lightly and she took her time to consider her options.”
‘Very freeing for her’
Following her mum’s death, Zoe spoke movingly of their relationship and said in a poignant tribute to Julia: “Thank you for teaching us how to love unconditionally, to always show courage and empathy, and how, even in the darkest of days, laughter is the greatest of gifts.”
Those close to Zoe said her children Woody, 23, and Nelly, 14, with her ex-husband Norman Cook — AKA Fat Boy Slim — were also in her mind when she chose to hand over the radio mantel.
A pal added: “Zoe took time to re-evaluate what she wanted from life and decided that taking a step back would allow her to spend more time with her children, Woody and Nelly.
Zoe losing her mum was a massive thing for her and, when she stepped back for that six-week break, she had a long time to think about what she wanted
A pal
“She has spent the past six years having to go to bed really early, and it means she has missed out on events with her family and friends.
“Zoe is taking back this part of her life.
“It feels very freeing for her.”
Shortly after returning to Radio 2, it was revealed Zoe had used her time off to move house.
She sold her rural home in Sussex, which she bought in August 2020, and moved to a townhouse closer to Norman in Brighton.
The pair were married for 18 years before they announced their split in 2016.
They first met while she worked on Radio 1, and they married in 1999 during a star-studded wedding at Babington House in Somerset.
In an interview last month, Norman described Zoe as his “soulmate”, before revealing she kept him grounded. He added: “While you’ve got licence to break rules, you’ve always got a lot of people who’ll let you get away with murder.
“Zoe was really good for me for that, because she knew the fame game and we would sort of check each other.
“If I wasn’t respectful to people, she’d go, ‘’Oi, come on, that’s not how we behave! Go back and thank them for that’.” Friends say that, four years after their divorce in 2020, Zoe and Norman have never been closer.
One explained: “Norman has been a rock to Zoe and, when her mum passed away, he was doing everything he could to support her.
“They have always maintained a good relationship and they are very close.
“Julia’s passing made their connection stronger and when Zoe moved back towards where Norman is, it meant they have been able to do more things together as a family.
“Woody’s career as a DJ is something Zoe and Norman are immensely proud of, and they go and support him at his gigs whenever they can.
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‘A lot of laughter’
“Having that strong family unit is so important to Zoe.”
The presenter’s decision to quit Radio 2 came as a shock to some of her closest colleagues inside Broadcasting House.
However, insiders at the Beeb said there was some relief among the top brass that Zoe chose to step back.
She is the corporation’s second highest- paid star, on a yearly wage of £950,000, second only to departing Match Of The Day host Gary Lineker, who made £1.35million, according to the most recent BBC annual report published in July.
As the Beeb undergoes a major cost-cutting drive, Zoe’s departure as full-time host will save Radio 2 almost £1million.
She will return in the New Year to work on other projects.
A BBC insider said: “Zoe is so incredibly popular at Radio 2, but her decision to step back has certainly done the BBC a favour.
“Her salary was absolutely huge, but it was her decision to leave.
“There was no pressure, but it felt like the right time.
Zoe is so incredibly popular at Radio 2, but her decision to step back has certainly done the BBC a favour
BBC insider
“With everything that had happened in her personal life, and amid major changes at the Beeb, it couldn’t have been better timing for everyone involved.
“When Zoe returns for projects on Radio 2, she will be on a new salary.”
Breaking the news of her departure yesterday, Zoe said: “After six years of fun times alongside you all on the breakfast show, I’ve decided it’s time to step away from the early alarm call and start a new chapter.
“You know I think the world of you all, listeners, and it truly has been such a privilege to share the mornings with you, to go through life’s little ups and downs, we got through the lockdown together, didn’t we?
“We’ve shared a hell of a lot — the good times, the tough times, there’s been a lot of laughter.”
Paying tribute to her team, Zoe called them “family” and said she would miss them all, before joking: “I won’t miss the 4am alarm call.”
Zoe first joined Radio 2 in 2006, when she fronted specialist documentaries before hosting the Saturday breakfast show from 2009.
She left after three years and, following a brief return in 2017, took over from Chris Evans as full-time breakfast show host in 2019.
On the airwaves, Zoe has made history. After joining Radio 1 in October 1997, she became the first woman to host the breakfast show solo from 1998 to 2000.
She was a pin-up for Nineties “ladette” culture and said of her move to Radio 2: “The culture was a label thing. I think you try to live up to that.
“But I don’t think actually it was as rock ’n’ roll as we professed it to be.
“But 20 years on, you’re mums, you’ve been working, you’ve learned a lot, you’re at a different point in your life.
“I’m nearly 50, you’ve got to grow up at some point.
“I’m such a different person to the one I was at Radio 1 . . . I like to think that women were treated slightly differently back then.”
With everything that had happened in her personal life, and amid major changes at the Beeb, it couldn’t have been better timing for everyone involved
BBC insider
Scott will leave his afternoon slot to take over from Zoe on breakfast.
Head of Radio 2 Helen Thomas saluted Zoe’s incredible career. She said: “Zoe has woken up the nation on Radio 2 with incredible warmth, wit and so much joy since 2019.
“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 will remain an important part of the Radio 2 family.”
Zoe’s departure follows a raft of other stars leaving Radio 2 in recent years, including Ken Bruce.
She said yesterday: “I’m not going to be a stranger.
“I’m staying in the Radio 2 crew and family because it’s an amazing family and I’ll have more news on that in the New Year.
“I’m so grateful to my incredible boss ladies, to Helen and Laura and Lorna and Fiona. They have always been so supportive, particularly this year, so thank you ladies.”
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SCOTT: I CAN’T WAIT
SCOTT MILLS says he “can’t wait” to take over Zoe Ball’s breakfast slot.
He joined Radio 2 in 2022 after 24 years broadcasting on Radio 1.
Hailing the big names who have presented the breakfast show before him, Scott, 51, said yesterday: “It’s safe to say we’re going to miss Zoe massively in the morning, but she 100 per cent deserves a lie-in.
“This is a huge honour, to walk in the footsteps of Sir Terry Wogan, Chris Evans and Zoe.”
Scott told how he started doing pretend shows in his bedroom for his mum aged eight, and joined hospital radio when he was 12.
Recalling how he landed his first “proper radio” gig at 16, he added: “You never think that it would ever turn out like this. I’m thrilled. I’m overwhelmed by all the love. I still can’t quite believe it.”
He told fans: “I hope you know I’ve loved being with you in the afternoon. It’s been two whole years, it’s gone so fast.
“I can’t thank you enough for how lovely you all were when I took over from Steve Wright, and I know that you’re going to extend that love to Trevor Nelson, who’s going to be here with you every weekday from early next year.
“Of course, we need to also say a huge congratulations to DJ Spoony, who’s going to be bringing the Good Groove to Monday to Thursday nights. I know he’s absolutely buzzing for this.
“Zoe’s last show is on the 20th of December, and then I’ll be waking you up from January.
“Zoe isn’t going completely – she is remaining with us and we will tell you more about that soon. But honestly, I can’t wait to start with you every morning.”