Zoe Ball has disclosed her ongoing struggle with a debilitating health condition following her announcement of her departure from her £950,000 position as the host of the BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show.
The 54-year-old DJ and presenter recently announced her decision to step down from her breakfast show, citing a desire to “focus on family,” and passing the role to her close friend Scott Mills.
In an Instagram post shared on Wednesday, Zoe disclosed that her early morning wake-up routine has been compounded by severe pain from temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), a condition exacerbated by stress.
TMJ, or temporomandibular joint, refers to the joint connecting the lower jaw to the skull, located in front of each ear.
Disorders affecting this joint, collectively known as temporomandibular joint disorders (TMDs), impact both the joint itself and the surrounding muscles responsible for jaw movement.
Common symptoms of TMDs include pain in the jaw, neck, and shoulders, headaches, restricted or locked jaw movement, dizziness, and vision disturbances.
In a social media update, Zoe Ball shared before-and-after photos of herself following a lymphatic drainage massage aimed at alleviating muscle tension caused by her temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ). She revealed, “I have TMJ and wake most days with awful headaches from tension and jaw clenching. So grateful to Helen @thesculptresslondon for her magic. This is my face after I’ve seen her; check out my face before—yikes. Can’t recommend her enough. She also has the greatest playlists. Thank you, H, and @just.__.tiff for the intro.” She included hashtags such as #tmj, #tensionheadache, #lymphaticdrainagemassage, #stressrelief, and #facialmassage.
Her post drew responses from her celebrity friends, including Julia Bradbury, who commented, “So magical to find people like this in our lives,” and Stacey Dooley, who wrote, “Stunz” (sic).
Zoe, the BBC’s highest-paid on-air female presenter in 2023/24 with a salary between £950,000 and £954,999, was ranked second on the broadcaster’s top-earning talent list, following Gary Lineker. This announcement comes after Zoe took a six-week hiatus from hosting over the summer, during which Scott Mills temporarily stepped in, before her return in September.
In her official departure statement, Zoe reflected on her six-year tenure: “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.”
