Zoe Ball's doomed romances from ex-husband affair to boyfriend struck by tragedy

Radio presenter Zoe Ball has endured heartbreak and tragedy away from the airwaves.

The 53-year-old has announced her shock departure from her much-loved BBC Radio 2 Breakfast show, admitting that it was time to "start a new chapter" after six years of early starts. She added: "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." On and off the radio, Zoe has made several honest admissions about her love life over the years, and as she took a period of absence from the show earlier this year, she was seen enjoying a day out with her ex-husband Fatboy Slim, whom she co-parents their two children with, Woody, 23, and Nelly, 14.

Although they appear to be on good terms now, the former couple have come a long way after the mum-of-two admitted to being unfaithful during her marriage, which led to their eventual split. Since then, she has suffered the tragic loss of her boyfriend and is now believed to be enjoying being single.

Here, the Mirror takes a look at Zoe Ball's turbulent love life...

Fatboy Slim friendship

Zoe and DJ Norman Cook, better known as Fatboy Slim, were one of the golden celebrity couples of the late 90s and early 00s, with the two stars tying the knot in 1999 and welcoming two children into the world together before calling time on their romance for good in 2016.

The former couple first briefly split in 2003, when it was revealed Zoe had been having an affair with one of her husband's friends. Speaking to The Mirror about the extra-martial affair in 2010, Zoe confessed that she "wasn't happy" and that a "mix of everything" contributed to her infidelity.

The Radio 2 presenter shared: "And what I've always done in my past when life hit a rocky patch was just run from trouble into the next relationship. I've had so many boyfriends and that's what happened if it ever got difficult." Zoe also admitted at the time that family life fuelled this lack of satisfaction, admitting that "reality hit me hard" when she had kids.

She added: "Norm and I met in Ibiza and lived this crazy, party life and got married within a year," she said. "Then we had Woody and suddenly I was all settled down. I thought, ‘Do know each other?’"

Norman and Zoe rekindled their romance three months after their brief split in 2003, going on to have a second child together in 2010, but sadly ended their marriage in 2016 and divorced. A statement from the parents-of-two announcing their split at the time read: "With great sadness we are announcing that we have separated. After many exciting adventures together over the last 18 years we have come to the end of our rainbow. We are still great friends and will continue to support each other and raise our beautiful children together, living next door but one. X Zoe & Norm."

True to their word, Norman and Zoe have remained close friends since ending their romantic relationship, with Praise You hitmaker appearing on Zoe's radio show in June ahead of Glastonbury and sharing a few cheeky jokes live on-air when Zoe almost forgot her ex's name.

In August of this year, Zoe stepped back from her morning presenting duties, which she returned to in late September. Norman was there for her in her time of grief following the devastating loss of her mother. 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.

Boyfriend Billy's sad death

Zoe suffered unimaginable heartache in 2017 when her boyfriend Billy Yates took his own life at the age of 40. Speaking about her late partner's death a few years later, the mum-of-two admitted losing Billy was the hardest thing she's "ever had to deal with" throughout her life.

Billy was a cameraman and technician who had worked on shows like the Antiques Roadshow, The Xtra Factor and Famous and Fearless. Zoe and Billy were first pictured together in February 2017 and their relationship marked Zoe's first public romance since her split from Norman.

Talking about Billy, who died in May 2017, Zoe opened up about her late partner during a tender interview on Desert Island Discs in February 2020. She recalled: "He'd lived with depression for a huge chunk of his life. It's so hard to sit and watch someone you love and care for struggle with mental health. Losing him was the hardest thing I've ever had to deal with in my life."

Zoe, who had been friends with Billy for years before their relationship turned romantic, went on to add: "I think something that's really important to share… is that there is hope. There is help available, there are ways, we're still learning. For some people, the drugs work. For some people that isn’t the case.

"But I think it's so isolating to be trapped in your mind like that, when you doubt yourself, you doubt everything you've ever known. You doubt your family love you. You doubt your friends care for you."

Split from 'demanding' boyfriend

Zoe was reportedly left 'gutted' after splitting from her model boyfriend Michael Reed last year after a five-year romance, but it seems the radio star has moved on from the failed romance and is loving life as a single woman.

The former Live & Kicking presenter parted ways with model Michael in May, with sources claiming at the time that the relationship had run its course after five years. An insider added, "Zoe is gutted, but she's better off without Michael. This is a relief to many of her friends, who think she has done the right thing."

"They had a wonderful romance at first and Michael was a real gent. But in recent months Zoe has started to find him a bit demanding," the source went on to claim to The Sun. The source said that Zoe had asked Michael to move out of their East Sussex home but the former couple planned to remain on good terms.

Appearing on Celebrity Gogglebox a couple of months on from the split, Zoe appeared to be enjoying spending time on her own as she opened up to her son Woody about a solo kitchen dance in the middle of the night. "You know what I did the other night? I whacked on some tunes. I was alone in the house and I danced in the kitchen until about one in the morning and I had a lovely time," Zoe told her eldest child as they watched TV together.

She added: "I did all my moves and my favourite dances, spoke to my friends and had a little kitchen disco for one. Is that a bit sad?" The Circle star Woody was amused by his mum's admission and jokingly asked her if she was okay and "wanted to talk about it", to which Zoe giggled and put her face in her hands.

If you're struggling and need to talk, the Samaritans operate a free helpline open 24/7 on 116 123. Alternatively, you can email jo@samaritans.org or visit their site to find your local branch

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