Zoe Ball is comforted by FatBoy Slim ex-husband Norman Cook while taking time out from her show – as Radio 2 return date is thrown into doubt

Zoe Ball‘s Radio 2 return date has been thrown into doubt as BBC bosses have told her to ‘take all the time she needs’ following the death of her beloved mother. 

Sources close to the star told MailOnline she has been given ‘as much time as she needs’ by the BBC, who acted similarly when she took time off in March to care for her ill mother Julia Peckham who passed away from cancer a month later.

Zoe, who is the BBC’s highest paid female star earning £950,000-a-year, has been on extended leave from her show since August 8, with Gaby Roslin and Scott Mills filling in. 

While listeners grew concerned by her ongoing absence, the 53-year-old DJ was seen out for the first time in weeks, laughing and smiling with her ex-husband Norman Cook, aka Fatboy Slim, outside a café in Hove on Thursday. 

As Zoe was spotted for the first time in weeks, BBC bosses are said to be doing ‘everything they can’ to help her return to work when she is ready.

The 53-year-old DJ, whose listeners grew concerned by her ongoing absence, was seen out for the first time in weeks

A source told MailOnline: ‘Zoe’s had a tough few months. She had the death of her mum in April to deal with and it’s not been an easy time for her.

‘She has taken the time off because she needed a break with everything that has been going on for her. Her bosses are being very supportive and just want her to be in a place where she is ready to return to work.

‘Zoe is expected to come back before the end of the month. Nobody is telling her an exact date to come back, the decision is very much on her.

‘She’s been told to take all the time she needs.’

Before her leave of absence, Zoe had been on holiday in Ibiza and attended Brighton Pride.

But just three days back into her job, the former Live & Kicking presenter took another extended break.

A schedule tweak suggested Zoe would return as soon as this Monday, with stand-in Scott moving back to his afternoon slot but Radio 2 insiders say ‘nothing is set in stone’.

The insider added: ‘Nothing has been confirmed. Radio 2 is being led by Zoe on this. They’re just expecting her to return sometime this month.’

The presenter (right) was seen laughing and smiling with her ex-husband Norman, aka Fatboy Slim, outside a café in Hove on Thursday

BBC bosses are said to be doing ‘everything they can’ to help her return to work when she is ready

Zoe continues to have a close relationship with Norman, 61, the father of her two children Woody, 23, and Nelly, 14. The former couple were married for 18 years (pictured in 1999) 

Yet she looked in good spirits on Thursday as she joined friends and her ex-husband in Hove. 

Zoe continues to have a close relationship with Norman, 61, the father of her two children Woody, 23, and Nelly, 14.

The former couple were married for 18 years and were known for their notorious partying in the Noughties before splitting in 2016.

Both Zoe and Norman are now teetotal having admitted issues with alcohol and both had stints in rehab.

Zoe suffered further tragedy in 2017 when her boyfriend, cameraman Billy Yates, took his own life aged just 40 in what the DJ described at the time: ‘Losing him was the hardest thing I have ever had to deal with in my life.’

Zoe took over from Chris Evans as the host of the Radio 2 Breakfast Show in January 2019, becoming the first woman to front the station’s flagship show.

She quit her role on Strictly Come Dancing spin-off show It Take Two in May 2021 to concentrate on her radio duties, having become a hit with fans.

But regularly listeners were shocked to hear Radio 2 colleague Scott Mills’ voice on August 12, when he filled in for Zoe unannounced.

Scott said: ‘If you set your alarm this morning to go off at 6:30am and normally Zoe comes in, please do not break out. You have not overslept

‘If you’ve just put us on this morning, it’s Scott Mills in for Zoe for the next few weeks.

‘I’m sending you all my love Zo, as are my team.’

Zoe took over from Chris Evans as the host of the Radio 2 Breakfast Show in January 2019, becoming the first woman to front the station’s flagship show

In March, Zoe said she would be taking time off to care for her mother Julia Peckham, who had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer (pictured with her mother Julia in 2010)

Fans have become concerned by the silence regarding the presenter’s absence, as well as Zoe’s lack of interaction on social media where she has been usually quiet.

Her last post on Instagram was on August 8, highlighting an interview clip from ex Radio 1 Breakfast DJs Mark Radcliffe and Marc Riley, best known as Mark and Lard, who revealed they wanted Zoe to be their own ‘showbiz reporter’ while they were fronting the show back in the Nineties.

Three days previously, she posted a snap of herself with children Woody and Nelly, claiming they were tired from their partying in Ibiza and Brighton Pride.

And before her summer break, she lauded her personal trainer who she revealed has been working out with her twice a week over the last year and ‘hugely helped with my strength, menopause symptoms, anxiety and helped boost my confidence.’

Neither Radio 2 or Zoe personal reps have offered any confirmed insight into her absence from the show, sparking even more worry from listeners.

Zoe’s son Woody – an aspiring DJ like his father – has not mentioned his mother in any of his many social media posts over the past few months.

However Woody did reveal back in July he and Zoe, who have appeared together on Channel 4 show Celebrity Gogglebox, were in talks with various TV production companies about hosting a new show together.

He told The Sun: ‘Me and my mum keep being pitched for really cool stuff. The industry is so hard, but we’ll get there. I’m excited for whatever we end up landing on.’

Scott Mills failed to address Zoe absence from the Breakfast Show on Monday, as he stepped in for another week 

Zoe last posted on Instagram on August 5 before disappearing. It featured a picture of her with her two children saying she was ‘jet lagged, brighton pride lagged [and] ibiza lagged’

But whereas some fans have shown their support for Zoe while she’s been off the airwaves – some of whom have been personally contacted Radio 2 – others haven’t been quite so sympathetic.

Many have voiced their frustration on X that Zoe’s absence, and lack of intel from bosses, is unfair on licence fee payers.

One wrote: ‘Is this a BBC scandal, complete misuse of licence payers’ funds.

‘Zoe Ball gets to pick and choose her contract terms and conditions.

‘She’s never at work, more holidays than you can imagine. Are we mugs paying for this? No comment.’

Another added: ‘Why are the BBC still paying Zoe Ball when she is still off air, just get rid of her for someone who does want to work early morning shift.’

As well as taking time off this summer and for her look after her ill mother in March, Zoe also spent three weeks away from the station last year to host Mamma Mia! I Have A Dream for rivals ITV.

The series, set in Corfu, won’t be returning for a second season.

Zoe has been beset by hardship over the last few years.

Following the breakdown of her marriage to Fatboy Slim, Zoe found love again with her partner Billy Yates, but their relationship was also not set to last.

After a long battle with depression, Billy, 40, took his own life in May 2017 at his home in Putney, London.

The Radio 2 presenter previously told how she felt ‘really grateful’ he had said goodbye to her the last time she saw him.

Fighting back tears as she spoke about their final moments together, she said: ‘He got on his bike and he cycled off and he turned round and he blew me a kiss goodbye, and that was the last time I saw him.’

Following the breakdown of her marriage to Fatboy Slim, Zoe found love again with her partner Billy Yates, who took his own life in May 2017 (Zoe and Billy pictured together) 

She added: ‘It was just that moment and that feeling of ”Oh my god I love him so much, we’ll find some help and it will all be okay.” And I wish I’d told him that.’

A year after his death, Zoe took part in a gruelling Sport Relief challenge to cycle 350 miles in five days in his memory and to raise awareness of mental health issues.

In May the star paid tribute just a week after confirming the tragic death of her mother Julia.

Following his death, Zoe said she had been ‘in shock for two years’ following the loss.

Alongside a snap of Billy, the radio host wrote: ‘7 years kisses in the sky’.