Zoe Ball’s return to Radio 2 has been scheduled following a six-week absence that raised concerns among her listeners. The date of her comeback will mark the end of her hiatus and reassure fans about her ongoing role with the station.
Zoe Ball is set to return to her BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show on Monday, September 23. According to the BBC’s schedules, Zoe will resume hosting her show next week, with Scott Mills returning to his afternoon slot. Zoe has been off the air since August 8, during which time Scott Mills and Gabby Roslin have been filling in for her.
Despite a surge of concerned messages from fans, Scott Mills began Zoe Ball’s show on Monday without acknowledging her absence. While covering for Zoe on August 12, Scott had previously sent a message of support to her, explaining that he was stepping in unexpectedly.
Scott Mills reassured listeners during his August 12 broadcast, stating: “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 informed them that he would be filling in for Zoe Ball for a while and sent his support, saying, “I’m sending you all my love, Zo’, as are the team.”
Concerns have been raised by fans and colleagues regarding Zoe, the BBC’s highest-paid woman with an annual salary of £950,000. Before her August departure, Zoe had enjoyed a holiday in Ibiza with her children, Woody and Nelly, and attended Brighton Pride. After returning to work for just three days, she left again.
The BBC has not provided further details on her absence beyond a spokeswoman’s statement that Zoe would return later this month. Zoe, 53, has also been notably inactive on social media, with her last Instagram post on August 5, where she described herself as “jet lagged, Brighton Pride lagged [and] Ibiza lagged.”
A 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 BBC is reported to have been contacted by fans concerned about Zoe’s well-being. However, some listeners have expressed frustration over her absence without an explanation, with one tweet stating: “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 comment read: “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 the early morning shift.”
In March, Zoe Ball announced she would be taking time off to care for her mother, Julia Peckham, who had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Julia passed away in April, leading Zoe to return to work on May 13. Earlier last year, Zoe took three weeks off to host Mamma Mia! I Have A Dream for ITV.
Zoe has faced a series of personal tragedies. In April, she paid tribute to her mother on social media, saying: “Sleep tight dear Mama. 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.”
Her relationship with Michael Reed recently ended, and in May 2017, she experienced the devastating loss of her partner Billy Yates, who took his own life. This followed the breakdown of her 18-year marriage to DJ Fatboy Slim, whose real name is Norman Cook.
Following her mother’s cancer diagnosis, Zoe Ball announced that she would be taking time away from Radio 2 to focus on her family. She described the period as “tough times” but praised her mother for her bravery. At the start of March, Zoe shared a poignant photo of Julia surrounded by family and another of her receiving chemotherapy. In her message, she expressed: “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.”
Zoe also thanked the medical professionals and extended support networks, saying: “Gratitude to our families and our extended family & friends at home & at work for their support at this time. 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 faced longstanding hardships. Zoe’s parents, Julia and Johnny Ball, a former TV presenter, divorced in 1972 after three years of marriage. Johnny Ball remarried Dianne Cheryl in 1976, and they remain together.
As Zoe’s career flourished, she and her husband Fatboy Slim supported each other. Slim has spoken about how Zoe kept him grounded, noting in the Changes podcast: “While you’ve got license to break rules, you’ve always got a lot of people who’ll let you get away with murder.”
Zoe Ball reflected on her relationship with Fatboy Slim, acknowledging his support and how they would hold each other accountable. He remarked, “Zoe was really good for me because she knew the fame game and we would sort of check each other. If I wasn’t respectful to people, she’d say, ‘Oi, come on, that’s not how we behave! Go back and thank them for that.’”
Their marriage ended in 2016, with the couple announcing they had “come to the end of their rainbow.” Zoe later found love with Billy Yates, but their relationship also faced difficulties. Tragically, after a prolonged struggle with depression, Yates, aged 40, took his own life in May 2017 at his home in Putney, southwest London.
Zoe has spoken about her gratitude for their final moments together, saying: “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.” Fighting back tears, 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 Billy Yates’ death, Zoe Ball undertook a rigorous Sport Relief challenge, cycling 350 miles in five days to honor his memory and raise awareness about mental health issues. She has consistently commemorated his death annually and returned to Radio 2 following his passing wearing a T-shirt bearing his name.
Despite the profound loss, Zoe found the strength to open her heart again when she began a relationship with former construction worker Michael Reed. Initially described by friends as a “true gent,” their relationship faced challenges and ended in May 2023. Reports suggest that Mr. Reed became increasingly demanding, and the couple had frequent disagreements over minor issues, such as Zoe spending time on her phone communicating with friends.
