Zoe Ball has quit her role as host of the Radio 2 Breakfast Show after six years. Zoe announced the news live on air on Tuesday morning.
The star says she will remain part of the BBC Radio 2 family and will reveal more news on that in the New Year. She said the new host of the breakfast show will be announced this morning.
Zoe Ball said it has been a “privilege” to share her mornings with listeners as she announced her departure from her BBC Radio 2 breakfast show. Ball has fronted the morning programme since 2019 after taking over from Chris Evans.
Announcing the news on her Tuesday morning show, she said: “Okay, you lovely bunch, I have some news. After six years of fun times alongside you all on the breakfast show, I’ve decided it’s time to step away from the early alarm call and start a new chapter.
“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.”
In an official statement, she said: “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.”
Ball said her last show will be on December 20, adding: “Just in time for Christmas with plenty of fun and shenanigans. While I’m stepping away from the Breakfast Show, I’m not disappearing entirely – I’ll still be a part of the Radio 2 family, with more news in the New Year.
“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!”
Helen Thomas, head of Radio 2, said: “Zoe has woken up the nation on Radio 2 with incredible warmth, wit and so much joy since January 2019, and I’d like to thank her for approaching each show with as much vim and vigour as if it were her first. I’m thrilled that she’ll remain an important part of the Radio 2 family.”
Zoe missed months of air time this year in a break from the show that was never fully explained.
Returning to the air at the end of September after months away, Zoe quipped “I have wandered back” and asked listeners “How was your Brat summer?”.
Ball, 53, had not been on air hosting The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show since she briefly returned on August 8, following a summer break. Returning she dubbed herself the “happy wanderer” saying: “I have wandered back. How was your Brat summer? Was it marvellous? Have you been enjoying summer?
“We did that back in the 90s, it was called something different then… bringing back memories.”
She added: “I hope you’ve been enjoying some of the gorgeous sunsets over the last couple of weeks. It’s a tad soggy our end this morning. Take it easy out on the roads…”.
Ball, who is the BBC’s highest paid on-air female star, thanked her colleague and fellow radio presenter Scott Mills for “looking after you for the last few weeks”, and added: “I love you, Scott. More on that later.”
After playing Earth, Wind & Fire’s September, she read out a message from a listener and responded, saying: “No, I didn’t go to Turkey for new face and teeth”. She confirmed her return to work in a post on X on Sunday, writing: “Back on breakfast @bbcradio2 tomorrow morning at 6:30.”
In April, Ball announced the death of her mother, Julia Peckham, writing in an Instagram post: “We are bereft without you but will hold so tight to each other.” Ball took over the Radio 2 morning programme in 2019 from Chris Evans.
She was the first female host of the Radio 1 Breakfast Show in 1998, a post she held until 2000.