Everything we know about Zoe Ball’s family as she exits Radio 2’s Breakfast Show

Zoe Ball shocked viewers today when she announced that she’s leavingRadio 2’s Breakfast Show after six years as the host.

The presenter said she’s leaving the program to ‘focus on family’ and her replacement has been confirmed as Scott Mills.

The 53-year-old will remain on the station until December, when fellow Radio 2 presenter Scott, 51 – who filled in for mum-of-two during her unexplained absence earlier this year – will be officially take over.

Zoe said this morning: ‘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.

‘Huge thanks go to my awesome team on the show, Tina, Mike and Richie, and of course our listeners, with whom I’ve shared some of life’s highs and lows, the good, the bad and the daft times.’

‘My last show will be on Friday December 20, 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!’

It’s been a tumultuous year for Zoe, with her mum dying in April, just 12 weeks after she was diagnosed with cancer.

Zoe announced her mother Julia Peckham’s pancreatic cancer diagnosis in March, subsequently taking time off work to care for her.

After Julia died, Zoe was unexpectedly absent from her radio show for a period of time, reportedly spending more time with her family and dealing with ‘grief, anxiety, and depression’.

Who is Zoe Ball married to?

Zoe, 53, was married to Norman Cook, 61, from 1999 until 2020.

Cook, who uses the stage name Fatboy Slim, is a DJ and producer who was integral in creating the big beat genre in the 1990s.

The pair remain close friends and share son Woody (born in 2000) and daughter Nelly (born in 2010).

The pair, who met in Ibiza in 1997, first split after Norman discovered Zoe had been unfaithful with DJ Dan Peppe.

He previously told reporters: ‘I still love her. If you love someone, you’ll forgive them.’

After reconciling, they welcomed their second child, but in 2016, Zoe and Norman separated for good.

Since their separation, the stars have remained close friends, with Zoe reportedly selling her Sussex mansion to move closer to him in Brighton just recently. The pair are often seen together, causing some to speculate about a possible rekindling

Who are Zoe Ball’s children?

Woody Cook, 23, followed in his famous dad’s footsteps and routinely DJs in the Brighton area.

Woody has also appeared on Celebrity Gogglebox with his mother.

In an interview with Boys By Girls magazine in 2019, Woody came out as bisexual. He admitted he was ‘more attracted to girls’ and was yet to date a boy, admitting his preference changed ‘from day to day.’

Speaking about the moment he told his mother, he said: ‘Her first reaction was: ‘You can’t be, you like girls?.’ I got her to look back upon her group of friends and she started to realise she knew more bi people then she thought. I think it was a bigger thing in her time.’

Zoe also shares rarely seen 14-year-old Nelly with Norman.

Who are Zoe Ball’s parents?

Zoe Ball’s father is Johnny Ball, a popular English television and radio presenter in the 70s and 80s. He was married to Zoe’s mother, Julia Anderson, from 1969 to 1972.

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