Zoe Ball and Jo Whiley say they are much more present for their kids now after spending their childhoods working and partying

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Zoe Ball and Jo Whiley have been reminiscing about their past – balancing busy careers with raising young children and a lively social life. They both agree they’re much more focused on being present for their kids these days.

The hosts of the gardening and lifestyle podcast, Dig It, joked that their kids think they’re much less exciting than they used to be.

Zoe is a 55-year-old mother of two: a 25-year-old son named Woody and a 16-year-old daughter named Nellie. She shares them with her former husband, Norman Cook, who is also known as the DJ Fatboy Slim.

Jo, age 60, is a mother of four children: India (34), Jude (27), Cassius (25), and Coco (16). She is married to Steve Morton, who works as a music executive.

They’ve both talked about reducing their alcohol consumption lately, and in their most recent podcast episode, they discussed how that change has impacted their families.

I’ve learned to really enjoy a drink or two, and honestly, that’s my limit now. I’m so glad I’ve reached a point where I can stop there, because things used to be very different. I used to just keep drinking and couldn’t control it, so being able to have just one or two and be satisfied is a huge step for me.

What I appreciate most about myself now is that I’m a healthy and present parent. I’m not always thrilled with everything about myself, but I’m really glad my kids have a reliable and supportive mom/dad who is always there for them.

She described herself as a bit of a homebody, saying she goes to bed early and enjoys getting plenty of sleep. She’s content with her simple life, but feels more open and ready to help others – and to take care of herself – which she sees as a positive change.

Zoe, who used to present children’s TV, was a prominent face of the ‘ladette culture’ popular in the late 1990s. She’s confessed that her partying during that time was so excessive, she barely remembers hosting the BBC Radio 1 Breakfast Show.

Let me tell you, after I married Fatboy Slim back in ’99, things definitely shifted in the public eye. Suddenly, I was often hanging out with other well-known women who were famous for really letting loose and enjoying a good time – and honestly, I fit right in! It definitely cemented my reputation as someone who loved a party.

Appearing on Strictly Come Dancing in 2005 helped her establish herself as a presenter, and more recently, she’s chosen to focus on family life, leading to her departure from her Radio 2 show in 2025.

Radio 1 colleague Jo also shared that her 16-year-old daughter, Coco, has grown up seeing a different side of her than Jo’s older children did.

Jo, who worked with Zoe on Radio 1 and Top of The Pops in the nineties, said that Coco reminds her of a less interesting version of her former self.

I used to be a big partier. I drank a lot and often stayed out all night.

People in India might recall my experiences traveling in Britain and the trouble I sometimes got into, but I feel like I’m presenting a better side of myself to Coco. Unless, of course, she finds me uninteresting or dull!

Zoe added that now it’s the turn of her son Woody to try and persuade her to come out partying.  

‘My kids do it like, “Come on, mom. You used to be so much fun. Come on, you can do it!”

Woody always suggests getting an espresso martini! I actually had one on Saturday night, and it really messed up my sleep – I wasn’t able to fall asleep until 4 a.m. It was a rough night.

I tell my children that it’s okay to have fun and enjoy a drink if they choose, but they need to understand that their mother isn’t the same person she once was.

Sometimes people feel like they missed out on things, and I get that. But I also remind them they avoided seeing me at my worst – when I was pushing boundaries for too long and going too far.

I think as you get older, you’ll probably realize it was a good thing she cut back on her drinking, you know?

The close friends confessed they now fondly remember their wilder days, with Zoe exclaiming, ‘It was just so much fun!’

Looking back at everything we accomplished – the tasks, the interviews, even the things I’d forgotten – it’s surprising! Just the other day, someone showed me old footage and I realized, “Wow, I used to wear crop tops!”

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2026-03-26 13:23