Zoe Ball appeared to be overcome with emotion as she was seen wiping away tears at her leaving lunch with her BBC Radio 2 colleagues on Tuesday.
The radio presenter, 54, enjoyed a farewell lunch at London’s swanky Langan’s Brasserie and it wasn’t without a tearful moment.
The star confirmed she was quitting her breakfast show last month to ‘focus on family’ as she handed over the reigns to her ‘bestie’ Scott Mills.
Amongst the laughter, Zoe was seen at one point wiping her eyes at the final festive get together with her team.
Looking stylish, Zoe opted for an all black ensemble as she embraced a chic rockstar look in black jeans and a blazer.
Completing the look with black boots she was seen smiling from ear to ear as she left the restaurant carrying a large Selfridges bag.
Zoe Ball wiped away tears as she enjoys emotional farewell at BBC Radio 2 lunch at London’s swanky Langan’s Brasserie on Tuesday
Looking stylish, Zoe opted for an all black ensemble as she embraced a chic rockstar look in black jeans and a blazer
Amongst the laughter, Zoe was seen at one point wiping her eyes at the final festive get together with her team
Last month, Zoe opened up about her own medical issues when she revealed she was battling a painful health condition which has left her with ‘awful’ headaches.
She later admitted her early wake-up calls for her radio show have been made worse as she is in agonising pain from TMJ, which is worsened by stress.
TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint, which is the joint that connects your lower jaw to your skull in front of each ear.
TMJ disorders (TMDs) are a group of conditions that affect the TMJ and the muscles that control jaw movement.
Symptoms include jaw, neck and shoulder pain, headaches, limited jaw movement or locking, dizziness and vision problems.
Zoe will host her last slot on December 20 before Mills, who currently hosts Radio 2’s weekday afternoon programme from 2 – 4pm, begins fronting the programme from early January.
The star said she is ‘really chuffed for my mate’ as she and Scott posed for photographs outside New Broadcasting House.
She told reporters she is ‘so proud’ of Mills, 51, adding: ‘It has all turned out nicely. I’m really chuffed for my mate and really excited about it.’
Zoe will host her last slot on December 20 before Scott Mills takes over the show in January
Completing the look with black boots she was seen smiling from ear to ear as she left the restaurant carrying a large Selfridges bag
She struggles to contain her emotion as she closed the door on her Radio 2 chapter
The star was seen fixing her makeup in another shot
The star posed for a selfie with a fan after building a strong bond with her listeners over the years
Earlier in the day Zoe was seen making her way to the lunch
Zoe was also seen laughing and smiling as she reminisced with her colleagues
Ball was the BBC’s highest-paid on-air female presenter in 2023/24 with a salary between £950,000 and £954,999, ranking her second on the list of top-earning talent behind Gary Lineker, according to the corporation’s annual report published in July.
The presenter had taken a mysterious six week absence hosting over the summer – with Scott stepping in as her replacement – before she returned in September.
Announcing the news to listeners she 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.’
The veteran presenter said she was ‘thrilled’ to reveal her good friend Mill, as her replacement, telling listeners: ‘Scott and I go way back to our Radio 1 days, when he was doing early mornings before me. He’s been a close friend for years, and I’m beyond thrilled it’s him taking over the Breakfast Show.
‘Breakfast has always been his dream, and what a year he’s had – from racing around the world to his beautiful wedding to Sam. He’s not only a blooming brilliant producer but one of the best in radio. I can’t wait to tune in on the school run!’.
Last month, Zoe opened up about her own medical issues when she revealed she was battling a painful health condition which has left her with ‘awful’ headaches
She later admitted her early wake-up calls for her radio show have been made worse as she is in agonising pain from TMJ, which is worsened by stress
The star said she is ‘really chuffed for my mate’ as she and Scott posed for photographs outside New Broadcasting House
Ball was the BBC’s highest-paid on-air female presenter in 2023/24 with a salary between £950,000 and £954,999, ranking her second on the list of top-earning talent behind Gary Lineker, according to the corporation’s annual report published in July
Zoe carried her essentials in a leather bum bag
The star was seeing hailing a cab
The presenter took a mysterious six week absence hosting over the summer – with Scott stepping in as her replacement – before she returned in September
In an official statement, she said: ‘After six incredible years on the Radio 2 Breakfast Show, it’s time for me to step away from the very early mornings and focus on family’
She added: ‘It’s been a privilege’
Last week the presenter told listeners h ow her daughter Nell needed a trip to A&E after dad Norman Cook, aka DJ Fatboy Slim, accidentally dropped a Christmas tree on her foot
The star assured her listeners that her daughter was fine and the foot was only swollen not broken, but she had been forced to miss the last day of term at school
In an official statement, she also said: ‘After six incredible years on the Radio 2 Breakfast Show, it’s time for me to step away from the very early mornings and focus on family. It’s been a privilege.
‘I think the world of you listeners and I’m grateful to my bosses here for their support, especially this year.’
Last week the presenter told listeners how her daughter Nell needed a trip to A&E after dad Norman Cook, aka DJ Fatboy Slim, accidentally dropped a Christmas tree on her foot.
The star assured her listeners that her daughter was fine and the foot was only swollen not broken, but she had been forced to miss the last day of term at school.
She said: ‘Sending love to my Nell today. It was supposed to be her last day of school today. But sadly, her dad [Fatboy Slim] unintentionally dropped a Christmas Tree on her foot and she had to go to A&E yesterday.
‘She had an X-ray but it’s okay, it’s just swollen. She’s going to be alright, but she was supposed to go ice skating with her friends from school today but she won’t be able to get her foot in a boot. The things you don’t think are going to happen!
‘He’s obviously very apologetic, poor love. This happens doesn’t it. Bless her! What a story to tell though, so I’m sending her lots of love this morning.’
Zoe, who announced her split from Cook in 2016 after 18 years of marriage, also shares her son Woody, 23, with the DJ and former Housemartins star.