She used to be known for her lively social life, balancing a demanding radio career at the BBC with the exciting music world of the 1990s. She lived a fast-paced lifestyle, often pushing herself to the limit.
Zoe Ball, once known for her wilder lifestyle, now prioritizes her well-being and family, and has scaled back her career to focus on her children and mental health.
The presenter‘s boyfriend, who she’s been dating for more than a year, was finally identified earlier this week. They were seen taking a walk along the beach near their home in Brighton.
Although Zoe is happily in love again, the past couple of years have been difficult for her following the sad loss of her mother, Julia, in April 2024.
Even after nearly two years, Zoe continues to experience the ups and downs of grief. She recently described the months leading up to her mother’s death as a ‘terrible and frightening experience’.
Julia passed away only twelve weeks after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and Zoe has shared that she experienced a strong emotional reaction to the loss.
Their relationship wasn’t always easy, and they were actually separated until Zoe reached the age of eighteen.
When Zoe was only two years old, her mother, Julia, left the family, and her father, children’s TV presenter Johnny Ball, became a single parent, raising their daughter on his own.
In a recent interview with The Times, she spoke about her mother’s death and how they had grown apart. She admitted she was very young when her mother passed away and often thinks about the impact of that loss, especially considering their later reconciliation. She feels they were able to rebuild their relationship before it was too late.
Zoe’s father, Johnny, married a dancer named Di when Zoe was six years old. They raised Zoe together with her two half-brothers, Nick and Dan.
Julia remarried twice, first having a son named Jamie, and later gaining two stepdaughters, Ellie and Hannah. Zoe saw her mother often until she was seven years old, but then didn’t reconnect with her until she turned eighteen.
I remember my mum telling me that even before I was born, I was always a daddy’s girl. And when my parents separated, everyone agreed it would be better for me to live with my dad.
I saw my mum regularly until I was around seven years old. After that, she decided to live separately, believing it would help me have a more stable upbringing. It didn’t bother me, though, as I always felt her presence in my life.
My dad was always okay with me visiting my mom whenever I wanted,” she explained. “She did send birthday cards and gifts, but I never replied. She was present in my life, and I knew she was there, but we each lived our own separate lives.
Zoe and her mother, Julia, reconnected when Zoe turned eighteen and Julia was forty, and Zoe felt like they’d never been apart.
Rick, her husband, called and suggested I reach out to her as a pleasant surprise. I did, and it turned out to be a very emotional day, she explained.
Zoe remembered being incredibly nervous the day she agreed to go to Julia’s 40th birthday party – she could barely catch her breath.
In a 1997 interview with the Mirror, she recalled feeling faint but managing to stay composed. She then admitted to a sudden wave of panic, worrying that they might not get along.
When Zoe’s mum opened the door, all of Zoe’s nervousness disappeared. ‘Mum looked exactly the same, though she seemed a little shorter,’ Zoe remembered.
They embraced, sharing a deeply emotional first day. ‘There was a lot of tears and heartfelt connection,’ she said.
Zoe and her mother became very close in the years ahead. Zoe often joked that whenever she doubted her career path, she could always look back at the newspaper clippings her mother had saved – a complete record of all her achievements.
Zoe didn’t blame her mother for leaving when she was a child. In a 2002 interview with The Independent, she explained, ‘She was young and didn’t want to be a mother, so she left. I understand why.’
She admitted that when she was younger, her reluctance to visit her mother likely stemmed from a fear of being let down.
I built her up in my mind as someone extraordinary, and I was afraid meeting her would shatter that image. I always pictured her looking incredibly glamorous – a suede jacket with fur lining, and matching suede boots.
Zoe and her mother reconnected and quickly began to rebuild their relationship, even enjoying a Christmas vacation together in the Caribbean. Sadly, shortly after, Julia received a cancer diagnosis.
Watching her mother rapidly decline due to the illness, she admitted, ‘I was incredibly angry. It felt like she was robbed of more time.’
Following her mother’s passing, Zoe shared a heartfelt message on Instagram. She wrote, ‘Rest peacefully, Mom. Thank you for showing us how to love without limits, be brave, and care for others. And for reminding us that even during hard times, laughter is the most precious thing.’
After Julia passed away, the presenter took a break from her BBC Radio 2 Breakfast show. Later, following the death of her mother, she decided to leave the morning show permanently, needing time to reassess her priorities.
On the Persephonica podcast, hosted by Jo Whiley, Zoe described being completely unable to function. She explained she was overwhelmed and collapsed in the kitchen, unable to move.
I went through a really tough time emotionally, something I haven’t discussed much. It was a very difficult experience.
My doctor was incredible. He went above and beyond, even bringing me coffee and bagels, and gently let me know it was time to seek some support. He was truly a wonderful person.
The mum of two admitted she found Julia’s first birthday since her passing extremely difficult.
It’s been a little over a year since my mother passed away, and finding her birthday this year was incredibly difficult – even more so, because it was a full year after she was gone.
That was incredibly difficult. I cried for days, and even now, talking about my mother still brings up a lot of emotion.
I believe the most helpful thing is to rely on the people you care about, and to allow yourself to cry. It’s important to let out all the sadness and pain you’re feeling.
Zoe has experienced multiple heartbreaking losses. In 2017, her ex-partner, Billy Yates, tragically died by suicide, just a year after she separated from her husband, Norman Cook (known as Fatboy Slim). This recent loss of her mother adds to the pain she’s already endured.
The cameraman tragically died by suicide after struggling with depression for a long time. Zoe shared that she had been deeply shocked and grieving for the past two years since his death.
In a heartfelt conversation on BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs in February 2020, Zoe discussed Billy’s passing and the sadness she felt after his suicide.
Zoe explained that it feels incredibly lonely when you’re lost in your own thoughts and questioning everything. She said that self-doubt can make you wonder if even the people closest to you – your family and friends – truly care.
But she insisted there is always help available and that ‘it’s important to share there is hope.’
Zoe fondly remembered the man she loved, describing him as someone who was full of kindness and always willing to help others. She emphasized that he should be celebrated for how he lived, rather than mourned for how he died.
The celebrity revealed she regularly visits a spot on the South Downs – easily accessible from her Brighton home – to talk to both her mother and her late partner, Billy.
Zoe and her ex-husband, Norman, share two children: 25-year-old Woody and 16-year-old Nelly. Despite being divorced, they remain friendly, and Norman even refers to Zoe as his ‘soulmate’.
Zoe announced in December that she’s leaving her BBC Radio 2 weekend show to spend more time with her children, especially as her daughter Nelly prepares for her GCSE exams.
Many were surprised to hear she might be available to host Strictly Come Dancing, potentially replacing Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman – a job she’s previously said she’d be thrilled to have.
I was so thrilled to learn Zoe’s found love again! It turns out she’s been dating Mathieu Weekes, the incredibly talented production designer who’s even won a BAFTA. He’s 49, and they seem really happy together.
Zoe looked happy and cozy in a beanie and animal-print scarf as she strolled through her hometown with Mathieu this week.
Mathieu is a highly acclaimed production designer behind popular shows like The Traitors, Love Island, and Squid Game: The Challenge. He even won a BAFTA award in 2021 for his work on I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!, as reported by the Daily Mail.
Mathieu and Zoe first connected while working on the set of the 2023 talent show, Mamma Mia! – I Have a Dream, which Zoe hosted and filmed in Greece. Zoe’s previous public relationship with Michael Reed, a construction worker, had ended earlier in 2023.
The couple first appeared together publicly at the Glastonbury festival last June, just after she mentioned having a boyfriend on the radio a week prior.
Just weeks after confirming her partner had moved in with her, Zoe recently shared details about her relationship, including what she finds attractive about him.
The celebrity used to call Mathieu ‘The Lodger’ on her Dig It podcast, which she co-hosts with Jo Whiley. She’d mentioned he often spends extended periods away from the UK.
She recently admitted that she finds the smell of armpits attractive, saying she’s always enjoyed smelling her partner’s underarms while dating.
It might sound strange, but I believe if you truly love someone, you should accept everything about them – even their natural body odor. I’m not talking about unpleasant smells, of course, but I actually find the scent of someone’s armpits really attractive.
She explained that one of her favorite things is cuddling with her partner. When she hasn’t seen them for a while, she loves burying her face in their armpits and inhaling their scent, even though she sometimes gets a funny look for it. She just finds their smell comforting and pleasant.
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2026-01-25 19:39