Zoe Ball has presented her final breakfast show on BBC Radio 2, signing off by saying it’s been “a real privilege to keep you company through your morning manoeuvres.” The 54-year-old stepped away from the top spot on the radio station after six years, having pre-warned of her departure in November. It was during her emotional show on December 20, 2023, she bade farewell to her morning listeners.
“It’s been such a gift to do this show… pretty cool to be the first lass to host, and I won’t be the last – you girls, you can do anything,” she stated, expressing gratitude to her listeners, “To the biggest stars of our breakfast show, the listeners, young and old, and those in the middle, thank you for tuning in, whether as lone listeners, families, work gangs, morning joggers, dog walkers, truck drivers, train commuters, or hiding in bed.”
The show was filled with messages from many stars and BBC colleagues, including Kylie Minogue, David Tennant, Jeremy Vine, and her successor, Scott Mills. Ball closed her final show with the hit “Keeping the Dream Alive” by Münchener Freiheit.
Ball's departure follows what has been a challenging year for her personally. Earlier this year, she revealed her mother, Julia Peckham, had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, leading to her absence from the show for parts of March. Tragically, her mother passed away just after the diagnosis. This prompted Ball to take time off over the summer, leading to her informing Radio 2 bosses about her decision to leave the breakfast show.
Before acknowledging her exit, she officially announced on air last November, saying, “I’ve decided it’s time to step away from the early alarm call and start a new chapter. I’m excited to embrace my next chapter, including being a mum in the mornings, and I can’t wait to tune in on the school run!”
An insider mentioned she wants to live differently and spend more time with her family, which includes her two children from her marriage to DJ Norman Cook, also known as Fatboy Slim. Their son Woody Cook, 24, and daughter Nelly, 14, have kept Ball focused on her family life.
Ball also addressed her health issues, letting fans know she wakes up with “awful headaches” due to temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder. This condition impacts jaw movement and causes pain around the jaw and nearby muscles.
Although her six-year tenure on the breakfast show has ended, she reassured her fans she wouldn’t be disappearing completely. “I’m staying with the Radio 2 crew and family because it’s amazing. I’ll share new adventures and I’ll see you again come spring,” Ball noted, indicating future projects at the station, though specifics about her upcoming shows remain undisclosed.
The reaction to her departure has been overwhelmingly positive from both colleagues and fans. Stars including Kylie Minogue shared heartfelt messages, with Minogue saying, “Thank you for an incredible six years. The nation loves you and I love you.” Similarly, David Tennant expressed his appreciation, stating, “You’ve been so amazing over the last six years, the country is going to miss you.”
Returning to her roots, where she began co-hosting the Saturday morning children’s TV programme Live & Kicking and became notable for presenting the Radio 1 breakfast show, Zoe Ball has made significant contributions to broadcasting. Her Radio 2 breakfast show attracted millions of listeners, becoming the most listened to breakfast show in the UK, though it experienced a drop from nine million at its peak to 6.28 million this summer.
Throughout her career, she has remained at the forefront of British television and radio, previously hosting various significant shows such as Top of the Pops and Strictly: It Takes Two.
During her emotional send-off, she admitted feeling teary-eyed as she navigated through thank-yous and goodbyes, at one point noting, “We’re all pretending we’re okay, but it’s definitely getting to us.” She has shared her highs and lows with listeners, hoping to bring sunshine during tougher times, and she has been overwhelmed by their messages.
Zoe Ball's final moments were touching, as she expressed how much her listeners meant to her, saying, “It’s been such a special intimate relationship, and it’s never lost on me.” With her legacy firmly established, Ball leaves behind her breakfast broadcasting role, but as she embarks on new family-focused adventures, her return to the airwaves is eagerly anticipated.
