Zoe Ball is seen for the first time amid her six-week Radio 2 absence laughing and smiling with ex-husband Norman Cook – after her return date was revealed

Zoe Ball has been seen for the first time amid her six-week absence from her Radio 2 show. 

The radio host was seen laughing and smiling with her ex-husband Norman Cook, aka Fatboy Slim, outside a café in Hove on Thursday.  

In pictures obtained by The Mirror sure to reassure her fans, Zoe was seen looking cheerful with a group of people – as Scott Mills continues to cover her Breakfast show. 

It was revealed earlier in the day that Zoe will return to her BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show on Monday September 23.

Schedules published by the BBC show that Zoe will host her show again from next week, with her temporary replacement Scott Mills returning to his afternoon slot. 

In pictures obtained by The Mirror sure to reassure her fans, Zoe was seen looking cheerful with a group of people and Norman (pictured together in 1999) – as Scott Mills continues to cover her Breakfast show

The exes being seen together comes after Norman told how she kept him down to earth by ‘checking him’ for his behaviour.

 He told the Changes podcast: ‘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.”’

Zoe hasn’t been on the airwaves since August 8, with Scott and Gabby Roslin covering for her since then. 

Despite a flurry of concerned messages online from fans, Scott opened Zoe’s show on Monday with no mention of his absent colleague.

He previously sent a message of support to the star whilst covering her August 12 show, telling listeners that he was unexpectedly taking over.  

‘If you set your alarm every morning to go off at 6:30am and normally Zoe comes on, please do not freak out. You have not overslept,’ he told listeners, adding that he would be in the hotseat for awhile.

‘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 the team,’ he said.   

Zoe Ball will return to her BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show on Monday September 23

Schedules published by the BBC show that Zoe will host her show again from next week, with her temporary replacement Scott Mills returning to his afternoon slot

Zoe hasn’t been on the airwaves since August 8, with Scott Mills and Gabby Roslin covering for her since then 

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

Fans and colleagues of Zoe say they are concerned for the DJ, whose annual salary of £950,000 makes her the BBC‘s highest-paid woman.

Before leaving her show in August, the star enjoyed a holiday to Ibiza with her son Woody and daughter Nelly and attended Brighton Pride. 

She then returned to work for three days before leaving the show.

The BBC has not offered any explanation for her absence, other than a spokeswoman saying last week that she will be back later this month.

Zoe, 53, has also been unusually quiet on social media with her last Instagram message posted on August 5. 

It featured a picture of her with her two children saying she was ‘jet lagged, brighton pride lagged [and] ibiza lagged’.

One BBC insider told The Mail on Sunday: ‘Nobody knows what has happened but everyone loves Zoe. 

‘We hope everything is okay. Zoe is so loved at the BBC so to not have her around is really noticeable.’

The Corporation is understood to have been contacted by fans concerned for her welfare. 

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’

Fans and colleagues of Zoe say they are concerned for the DJ, whose annual salary of £950,000 makes her the BBC ‘s highest-paid woman

But some listeners have taken a dim view of her taking time off without explanation.

One tweeted: ‘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. ‘

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

She died in April and the host returned to work on May 13. Last year, Ms Ball took three weeks off in Corfu to host Mamma Mia! I Have A Dream for rival ITV.

Zoe has overcome a series of tragedies and heartbreak that led her to take time away from Radio 2 to focus on her family earlier this year. 

The BBC icon, 53,  announced in April that her mother Julia had died after a battle with pancreatic cancer following her diagnosis just a month before.

Posting a tribute to her mother on social media, she said: ‘Sleep tight dear Mama. 

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)

Julia died in April and the host returned to work on May 13 

In the tribute posted to Instagram (pictured), Zoe told fans she is ‘bereft’ 

‘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.  We are bereft without you but will hold so tight to each other.’

It is the latest in a string of tragedies the beloved Radio 2 presenter has had to endure. 

Her five-and-a-half year relationship with Michael Reed recently broke down, and seven years ago her partner Billy Yates took his own life in May 2017.

Mr Yates’ death came after the breakdown of Ms Ball’s 18-year marriage to Norman.

Sadly their marriage came to an end in 2016, with the couple announcing they had ‘come to the end of their rainbow’. 

Following her mother’s cancer diagnosis, Zoe said she would be taking time away from the station to focus on her family.

At the time she said her family were going through ‘tough times’ but her mother was being extremely ‘brave’.

At the start of March she posted a picture of Julia surrounded by family, as well as a second of her receiving chemotherapy in hospital, she wrote: ‘Heartbreakingly our beautiful Mama Julia has been diagnosed with cancer.

‘As many of you know from experience, these are extremely tough times. Mum is being incredibly brave.

‘My brother Jamie and I are completely in awe of the brilliant doctors, nurses and support teams looking after Mum. Thank you.

‘Gratitude to our families and our extended family & friends at home & at work for their support at this time.

Taking to social media, Zoe shared a photo of her mother surrounded by family members

Zoe Ball and her DJ husband Norman Cook, aka Fatboy Slim, announced in 2016 that they had ‘come to the end of our rainbow’ after 18 years of marriage

Fatboy Slim previously told how Zoe Ball would ‘check him’ as he rose to fame to ensure he treated people with respect 

‘Sending out love to people reading this who are battling cancer, or awaiting diagnosis and also to the folk looking after their dear ones who are poorly.’

The family has been bedecked by hardship for decades, with Zoe’s parents Julia and Johnny Ball, a former TV presenter, splitting up in 1972 after just three years of marriage.

Mr Ball remarried his second wife, Dianne Cheryl, in 1976, with the pair remaining together today.

After her separation from Norman, Zoe found love again in partner Billy Yates, their relationship was also not set to last.

After a long battle with depression, Mr Yates, 40, took his own life in May 2017, at his home in Putney, south west 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.’

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.’

Zoe Ball pictured with former partner Billy Yates, who took his own life in May 2017

Zoe wore a T-shirt bearing Billy Yates’ name as she returned to work at Radio 2 following his death

Zoe split from her long term partner Michael Reed last year after the couple’s relationship broke down over ‘silly things’

The couple had reportedly been arguing about very minor aspects of their life, such as Ms Ball spending time on her phone talking to friends

A year after his death, Ms Ball 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.

She has consistently marked his death each year and returned to work at Radio 2 following his death wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with his name.

Despite her loss, the presenter found the courage to love again when she began dating former construction worker Michael Reed.

But while friends said he was a ‘true gent’ at first, their relationship broke down after more than five years in May 2023 after Mr Reed allegedly became ‘a bit demanding’.

The couple had reportedly been arguing about very minor aspects of their life, such as Zoe spending time on her phone talking to friends.

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