The truth behind Zoe Ball’s departure from BBC Radio 2 is emerging after her shock decision to step down. The presenter has been in the role for six years and her announcement that she is quitting has saddened many listeners.
However, it comes after a difficult year for Zoe, 53, who took time off from the radio show earlier this year. She lost her mum in 2024 and sources have told media outlets she wants to ‘live differently’ and have more time with family.
Zoe expressed her deep appreciation for the support she’s received after her announcement. She said she is “really touched” by the outpouring of well-wishes since revealing her decision to step down from hosting the BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show, for which she gets a £950,000 salary.
Now she plans to leave next month and has shared her desire to “focus on family”. She also revealed that she’s “really chuffed” for Scott Mills, who will be taking over the early morning broadcast.
Ball took over from Chris Evans in 2019 and says she feels it’s time to “step away from the very early mornings and focus on family”, with her last show set for December 20. Meanwhile, Mills, who currently presents Radio 2’s afternoon programme, will begin his new role in January.
On Instagram, Ball showed her gratitude: “Really touched, thanks for the messages, thrilled for my mates Scott, Trevor, Spoony and Sophie”. TV star Rylan Clark praised Zoe as “being the best wake-up for the past six years” and also celebrated Mills’ upcoming position in his Instagram stories.
He said: “Scott, I’ve never been more happy for someone. If you grazed your knee you would bleed radio. I know how much this means to you and I’m so so proud of you.”
She couldn’t contain her joy as she stood outside New Broadcasting House with Mills, telling the media of her pride for her colleague. “It has all turned out nicely,” she expressed with satisfaction. “I’m really chuffed for my mate and really excited about it.”
During her Tuesday radio broadcast, Ball touched listeners’ hearts when she spoke affectionately to them: “You know I think the world of you all, listeners, and it truly has been such a privilege to share the mornings with you, to go through life’s little ups and downs – we got through the lockdown together, didn’t we?”
She added: “We’ve shared a hell of a lot, the good times, the tough times – there’s been a lot of laughter.”
Despite her obvious passion for her role, Zoe admitted the challenge of waking up early was real, joking: “But I won’t miss the 4am alarm call, if I’m completely honest”. Zoe’s unexpected exit from BBC Radio 2 followed a six-week absence during the summer.
Her extended leave had led to growing concerns among listeners, but upon returning, Zoe chirped ‘I’m back!”. Initially, she appeared content on-air, referring to herself as no longer a ‘wanderer’.
But it has since been suggested by sources close to the matter that Zoe was concealing dissatisfaction that had contributed to her break from broadcasting, reports the Mirror. Sources suggest that her departure from her Radio 2 role is motivated by a wish to spend more time with her children, Woody, 23, and Nellie, 14, particularly after the loss of her mother earlier this year.
“She simply wants to live differently, which means having more of a family life,” an insider revealed to Mail Online. The death of her mother, Julia, is said to have been a significant factor in Zoe reassessing her work-life balance.
Regarding her decision to leave BBC Radio 2 after half a dozen years, a source disclosed: “In the end, this was completely her decision. She came to them [the BBC] in September after she had had a break to think about her life and said: ‘I’m done.’ The BBC… wanted a bit of time to put everything in place, which they were able to do. They looked at who might do it… I think they only seriously considered Vernon Kay and Scott Mills.”