Zoe Ball steps out for low-key shopping trip after returning to Radio 2 following mysterious six week absence

Zoe Ball steps out for low-key shopping trip after returning to Radio 2 following mysterious six week absence

As I read about Zoe Ball’s latest ordeal, my heart goes out to her. It seems like she has been through more than anyone should have to bear in such a short span of time. Losing a loved one, dealing with relationship breakdowns, and battling personal demons – it’s truly heart-wrenching.


On Monday, Zoe Ball was spotted going out for a casual shopping excursion, having resumed her duties at Radio 2 after taking an unspecified six-week break.

53-year-old host resumed broadcasting with regular programming while giving a cheerful greeting to her audience and inquiring about any events they might have experienced during her absence, saying “What have I missed?”.

Following a well-received debut performance, the BBC’s notable figure appeared at ease while indulging in some shopping along Marylebone High Street. She was casually dressed in a purple checkered shirt and denim pants.

As I eagerly tuned in for Zoe’s long-awaited comeback, I couldn’t help but be moved by her heartfelt tributes. She honored Jamie Theakston and Lauren Laverne, two inspiring figures who bravely battled cancer. Their resilience and strength during their struggles truly embody the power of positivity.

The star ‘passed along the love she’s experienced’ to the couple, offering her blessings as they underwent their treatment.

Zoe Ball steps out for low-key shopping trip after returning to Radio 2 following mysterious six week absence

Zoe Ball steps out for low-key shopping trip after returning to Radio 2 following mysterious six week absence

She told listeners: ‘I must say while we are sending some love, our breakfast friend Laura Laverne our mate at six music is currently going through some cancer treatment. 

‘She is doing OK but just wanted to send my love out to her.’

Additionally, Zoe honored her former coworker Jamie by saying: “Also, my cherished, vibrant companion from Priory, Jamie Theakston, who is currently undergoing cancer treatment.

‘He is going to be OK and he is doing well. Sending so much love to them. So a lot of the love I got to me I am sending back to them.’

Jamie revealed last week that he is currently undergoing treatment for stage 1 laryngeal cancer. 

In the past month, Lauren informed her followers that she had been recuperating from an unexpectedly discovered sickness, which was detected during routine testing.

This year, Zoe personally went through a battle with cancer following the passing of her mother, Julia Peckham, due to pancreatic cancer in April.

After the passing of her cherished mother, the star was advised to take as much time as necessary for healing. However, Zoe resumed work on May 13.

Zoe Ball steps out for low-key shopping trip after returning to Radio 2 following mysterious six week absence
Zoe Ball steps out for low-key shopping trip after returning to Radio 2 following mysterious six week absence
Zoe Ball steps out for low-key shopping trip after returning to Radio 2 following mysterious six week absence
Zoe Ball steps out for low-key shopping trip after returning to Radio 2 following mysterious six week absence
Zoe Ball steps out for low-key shopping trip after returning to Radio 2 following mysterious six week absence
Zoe Ball steps out for low-key shopping trip after returning to Radio 2 following mysterious six week absence
Zoe Ball steps out for low-key shopping trip after returning to Radio 2 following mysterious six week absence
Zoe Ball steps out for low-key shopping trip after returning to Radio 2 following mysterious six week absence

Following her six-week break, Zoe expressed gratitude towards her colleague and radio host, Scott Mills, for filling in on her program. She also acknowledged ‘Spoony’ for taking care of Scott’s show during his absence. In other words, she thanked Scott for standing in for her show and Spoony for stepping up for Scott.

Originally, he was scheduled to travel globally for DJ gigs during his vacation. However, circumstances required him to alter all his arrangements. So, a big thank you to the boys and everyone else for your understanding and support.

I appreciate the overwhelming number of messages I received from my listeners, as each one felt incredibly meaningful. So, from the bottom of my heart, I want to express my gratitude to every single one of you.

On Sunday, Zoe made it clear that she will return to her position as the morning program’s host after taking a puzzling break.

She began: ‘Hello happy wanderers, I’ve wandered back’ and telling them she hopes they enjoyed their ‘Brat summer’.

The star went on: “Greetings, lovely folks! It’s your friendly explorer Zoe, back from my adventures. How did your brilliant summer as a ‘Brat’ turn out? Was it simply marvelous?

“Back in the 90s, we called it something else. I hope you’ve appreciated the beautiful sunsets lately. It’s rather damp here this morning. Drive safely!

In response to Scott, she said: “Thanks a lot, Scott Mills, for handling the show this week – we’ll discuss it further soon. In the meantime, what have I missed while I was away? Give me a call and let me catch up!

Following a brief news update, she warmly greeted any newcomers with a chuckle, saying, “Hey there! It’s yours truly, Zo. You might recall me from the ’90s, and here I am again.

Since her brief return to hosting on August 8 after a summer hiatus, Zoe has been absent from The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show.

Zoe chose to debut her comeback with the timeless classic “September” by Earth, Wind & Fire from 1987, humorously commenting that it arrived a bit tardily, as suggested by its well-known lyrics: ‘Do you remember, the 25th (or so) day of September?’

Following the race, Zoe jokingly mentioned that she hadn’t visited Turkey to get a ‘fresh face and smile’ while on break. However, news anchor Tina Daheley responded by saying, “You certainly do look fantastic, though.

Zoe mentioned she had a lot of news or juicy details to discuss, but playfully suggested some of it might be saved for private chats with her co-hosts outside the broadcast.

The star continued by announcing messages from people who had sent texts, keeping her updated about the events that occurred during her absence from her hosting duties.

Upon receiving a phone call for a song request, I warmly responded, “Thank you so much for having me back. It’s a pleasure to return.

It’s very thoughtful of Scott to help out. He’s such a kind soul, and he used to lend a hand during the ’90s under somewhat unique situations. But rest assured, he’ll be back later on today.

In her compact MINI, Zoe acknowledged that the drive was somewhat dangerous because of the substantial rainfall that had fallen on London during the previous night.

On a Sunday, Zoe Ball ended her six-week quiet spell and shared the news via social media that she would be back on her main BBC Radio 2 program starting from the next day, Monday.

She informed her followers, “I’ll be back for breakfast at 6.30 tomorrow.” Additionally, she appreciated them by saying, “@realscottmills and @djspoony, thanks for working those long hours.” (This version maintains the original meaning while making it more conversational and easier to read.)

Zoe posted a Disco Bambino’s track Odeon (Holdin’ On) on Instagram, writing “Let’s go!” in the caption and mentioning her Breakfast Show colleagues.

The top-earning female celebrity on the BBC, making approximately £950,000 per year, has been missing from her prime-time radio program since August 8, and fans are starting to worry more as time passes.

After her mother’s passing, Zoe was given plenty of time to grieve, yet the enigma surrounding her reappearance became even more complex last week due to her unforeseen disappearance and recent sale of her rural property.

In the last few weeks, it’s been disclosed that Zoe has changed residences, having sold her stunning countryside property located in the picturesque village of Newick, purchased for £2,025,000 in August 2020.

In August, it’s believed she decided to relocate and settled down in a townhouse located near her ex-husband, DJ Norman Cook (father of her two kids), who is based between Brighton and Hove. The separation occurred in 2016, and their divorce was finalized in 2020.

Others believe that the recent change represents a fresh beginning for Zoe, as she’s been unattached ever since her breakup with model Michael Reed about a year ago, following their five and a half years of partnership.

According to a source familiar with her living situation, it appears that Zoe grew tired of rural living and longed for a more vibrant environment instead.

She’s deeply immersed in transforming her home according to her preferences, spending joyfully on furnishings and small decorative items to ensure it’s flawless.

Oh my goodness, I swear I saw Zoe wandering around Brighton’s Churchill Square shopping center yesterday! Can you believe it? It felt surreal to spot her in person!

People had been curious about her whereabouts, and suddenly, there she stood before our very eyes, they commented.

In the face of numerous worried comments from fans online, Scott chose not to address the absence of his co-worker during Zoe’s performance last week when he took the stage.

Previously, he had stepped in for the celebrity on August 12 and conveyed a message of encouragement to her, informing the audience that he was filling in at the last minute.

‘If you set your alarm every morning to go off at 6:30am and normally Zoe comes on, please do not freak out. You have not overslept,’ he told listeners, adding that he would be in the hot seat for a while.

If you’ve tuned in today, you’ll find Scott Mills replacing Zoe for the coming weeks. He conveyed that Zoe and the entire team are sending their love to you.

It turns out that Zoe’s son, Woody Cook, expressed happiness seeing his mother smile amidst difficult circumstances, following photos of her being consoled by her ex-husband, Norman Cook (also known as Fatboy Slim), outside a café in Hove on Thursday.

With increasing curiosity about her unexpected disappearance, Woody, the 23-year-old he shares with Fatboy Slim, finally speaks up regarding his absence.

As a devoted son, I prefer to maintain a private bond between my mother and me. However, I am happy to share that I have been investing more quality time with her lately because she has consistently supported me during challenging periods. It brings immense joy to witness her happiness.

According to confidants, TopMob was granted an open-ended leave period by the BBC, showing a similar understanding they had shown earlier when she took temporary leave in March to tend to her ailing mother Julia Peckham. Sadly, Julia lost her battle with cancer about a month later.

Since Zoe hasn’t been seen for several weeks, it’s reported that BBC managers are making every possible effort to assist her in returning to work whenever she feels prepared.

She then returned to work for three days before leaving the show.

The BBC hasn’t given any reason yet for her being away; they only stated through a representative last week that she would return towards the end of this month.

It seems Zoe has been less active on social media lately, as her most recent post on Instagram was made on August 5.

In March, Zoe announced that she was going to take some time away from work to look after her mother, Julia Peckham, who had recently been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

In the spring, I unfortunately lost someone dear, Ms. Ball, who passed away in April. Fast forward to mid-May, the 13th to be precise, our beloved host returned to work after her brief hiatus. Previously, in the summer of last year, she had taken a three-week vacation on Corfu, where she skillfully hosted Mamma Mia! I Have A Dream for a competing network, ITV.

This year, Zoe chose to step back from Radio 2 for a while due to a string of hardships and emotional turmoil she faced, in order to prioritize her family.

In an emotional April reveal, I shared the tragic news of my beloved mother, Julia’s passing. She courageously fought pancreatic cancer for a month following her diagnosis, leaving us too soon after a valiant battle.

Posting a tribute to her mother on social media, she said: ‘Sleep tight dear Mama. 

Zoe Ball steps out for low-key shopping trip after returning to Radio 2 following mysterious six week absence
Zoe Ball steps out for low-key shopping trip after returning to Radio 2 following mysterious six week absence
Zoe Ball steps out for low-key shopping trip after returning to Radio 2 following mysterious six week absence
Zoe Ball steps out for low-key shopping trip after returning to Radio 2 following mysterious six week absence

I’d be happy to help!

It is the latest in a string of tragedies the beloved Radio 2 presenter has had to endure. 

Seven years ago, her partner Billy Yates tragically passed away by suicide in May 2017, and more recently, her five-and-a-half year relationship with Michael Reed has ended.

Following the end of her 18-year marriage to DJ Fatboy Slim (real name Normal Cook), Ms. Ball experienced Mr. Yates’ passing.

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2024-09-23 20:51

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