Zoe Ball has shocked listeners by announcing her departure from the BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show, but there's one very important person in her life who she can count on - her ex husband Norman Cook, aka Fatboy Slim.
One of the most iconic 'it couples' of the '90s, Zoe and Norman met in Ibiza in the summer of 1997, and quickly bonded over their shared passion for dance music. They married just before the turn of the millenium, and welcomed two children, Woody, 23, and Nelly, 14.
By 2016, their love story reached its final chapter, with the pair amicably announcing they'd 'come to the end of [their] rainbow'. This wasn't the end of their friendship however, and it's understood that Norman, 61, has been there for Zoe during what has been a painfully difficult year.
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Instagram)Back in March, Zoe shared that she would be taking time off to care for her mother Julia Peckham, who had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Sadly, Julia passed away in May, with Zoe penning a heartbreaking tribute. Sharing details of her mother's tough yet 'perfect' funeral with social media followers, Zoe wrote: "Yesterday we said goodbye to our dear Mama, Granny J. It was the perfect day and she would have loved it, forever in our hearts Mama, thank you for your magic & love. Missing you so much but holding tight to each other."
In August, Zoe stepped back from her morning presenting duties, which she returned to in late September and Norman was there for her at her time of grief. Ahead of her return, Zoe was spotted for the first time during her BBC Radio 2 leave alongside Norman, with the former couple seen laughing together with a group of people outside a Hove café.
Zoe and Norman are reportedly "spending more time together than ever" as the presenter grieves, with a friend from Hove telling the Daily Mail: "They always seem to be together." Another pal told the publication that the exes have been attending their son Woody's DJ gigs together.
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Getty Images)The pair are understood to reunite for family occasions as well as Sunday lunches with their kids, having maintained a friendly co-parenting relationship. In another significant move, Zoe recently moved from her £2million country home to a Brighton townhouse in Brighton, close to where Norman lives.
Zoe and Norman have previously been praised for their peaceful approach to co-parenting, but, by Zoe's own admission, it hasn't always been easy. Hailing Norman as 'the best dad' during a candid 2020 interview with Red magazine, mum-of-two Zoe confessed: "He [Norman Cook] is such a good friend and a good guy. It's not always been easy and it's taken time. He's been through a lot, I've been through a lot, but now we're in a great place as parents together.”
She continued: "We do sometimes look at them [their childen] and go, 'Wow, despite what we've been through, we made it' because they're brilliant kids."
Nowadays, the stars are close enough to make cheeky jokes about their failed marriage. In June 2023, ahead of Glastonbury, the Praise You hitmaker made an appearance on Zoe's radio show - with fans left in stitches after Zoe very nearly forgot his name. Introducing her ex hubby to listeners, radio legend Zoe said "I now welcome to the show somebody you may know from The Housemartins, Pizzaman, Beats International – I nearly forgot what you were called then, sorry." To which Norman replied: "And such things as our marriage." Responding in a similarly playful tone, Zoe said: "And such things as our marriage. It is Fatboy Slim aka Norman Cook."
In a statement made live on air this morning, Zoe told loyal listeners that the time had come to 'start a new chapter" after six years of early starts, while confirming she would continue working with Radio 2 in some capacity after adjusting her alarm clock.
Zoe, "Ok 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, we got through the lockdown together, didn't we?
"We've shared a hell of a lot, the good times, the tough times, there's been a lot of laughter. And I am going to miss you cats. I'm going to miss my amazing Prod Squad who I adore. Already missing Mike, I'm going to miss Tina and Richie. They've all become like family to me, like you lot. But I won't miss the 4am alarm call, if I'm completely honest. So my last Breakfast show will be with you on the 20th of December and then its high kicks all the way to Christmas, gang.
"I'm not going to be a stranger, I'm staying in the Radio 2 crew and family because it's an amazing family - as we saw last week with Paddy's fantastic Children in Need challenge- and I'll have more news on that in the New Year. I just want to say I'm so grateful to my incredible boss ladies, to Helen and Laura and Lorna and Fiona, they have always been so supportive of me especially in this job and particularly this year, so thank you ladies.
"Now of course it leaves us with a big question, who is going to wake you up in the mornings? Well the good news is you don't have to wait very long to find out. I am going to reveal the brand new host of the Radio 2 Breakfast Show on this show this morning . But for now, know I love you all to bits and this song from Supertramp seemed like a good one to play.”
A trailblazer in the field of broadcasting, Zoe became the first female host of the Radio 1 Breakfast Show in 1998, holding the post until 2000. After joining Radio 2 in 2006, Zoe made history in January 2019, by becoming the first woman to present the Radio 2 Breakfast Show, taking over the post previously held by Chris Evans. She will now be stepping down after December 20.
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