Zoe Ball is set to make a comeback on BBC Radio 2. The esteemed presenter stepped down from her morning breakfast show duties last year, passing the mic to her good friend Scott Mills.
Now it’s been confirmed that Zoe will front a new weekly music programme in addition to two special broadcasts, one being a BBC TV show exploring the exceptional six-decade-long West End career of Elaine Paige.
Zoe, 54, is gearing up to kick off her Saturday show from 1-3pm, promising to play a selection of her top tunes and ensuring “lots of laughs” along with fostering a strong connection with her audience. Helen Thomas, Head of Radio 2, expressed: “Zoe is one of the UK’s most loved presenters, so I’m thrilled to announce that she has a new home on Radio 2 on Saturday lunchtimes, plus she’ll be hosting various specials for us throughout the year.”
Having presented her final Radio 2 Breakfast Show on Friday, 20th December after a remarkable six-year stretch, Zoe recently hosted two episodes entitled ‘Christmas Crooners’ during the holiday season. Further to previous announcements, Zoe is also set to present ‘Elaine Paige: 60 Years in Showbusiness’, an exclusive concert event celebrating the illustrious career of the station’s own Elaine Paige on Sunday from 1-3pm.
This follows Zoe’s eldest child, musician Woody Cook, revealing that she has been lending a hand at her local café after leaving Radio 2. In a conversation with MailOnline, Woody shared: “These crazy party people I grew up with are now gardening, making puzzles and working in the local café. It’s very funny to see that transitional period, just as I’m kind of leaving the nest and now at the start of something big for me in music.”
Woody also touched on Zoe’s departure from Radio 2, expressing his delight at the decision as it allows him to spend more quality time with her. “It’s lovely seeing my mum more, because obviously she’s had quite a weird schedule for the last few years,” reports the Mirror.
Zoe had announced her decision to leave BBC Radio 2 a few months after taking an extended break from the show during the summer, following the passing of her mother. In an on-air statement, she explained that she felt it was time to “start a new chapter” after six years of early morning wake-up calls.
However, she reassured listeners that she would continue to work with Radio 2 in some capacity post-departure. During her final Breakfast show, Zoe became emotional, introducing the programme by revealing that the entire team had reunited for her farewell broadcast.
She confessed: “We’ve had some tears already. We don’t quite know what to do with ourselves this morning, do we? I’ve come in and I suddenly can’t remember how to press the button.”
Zoe opened up about the emotional toll, confessing: “We’re all pretending we’re going to be OK, that the emotion isn’t getting to us – but it’s definitely getting to us. So hold tight! But Richie, so many nice comments yesterday – made me blub my eyes out! ” She went on to say: “I’ve already had a little cry on Patrick! But we’re going to have lots of fun today. We’re playing some of my favourite records today – both Christmassy and non-Christmassy ones and we’ll get through as many messages from the listeners as we can.”