Former BBC Radio 2 breakfast presenter Zoe Ball has embrace a quieter life by ‘working in a local café’. The 54-year-old left the show in December last year to “start a new chapter”, which appears to be a simpler lifestyle filled with ‘lots of puzzles’ and gardening.
Her son Woody, 24, recently provided insight into his famous mum’s new lifestyle alongside her ex-husband, Norman Cook, better known as Fatboy Slim. The pair have swapped their wild partying lifestyles for something much more relaxed.
Woody said: “In the last five years, it’s been funny watching my parents take up gardening, both of them.” He also added that his parents were now involved with the Big Beach Café in Hove, where Fatboy Slim is often spotted working sporting a name badge that reads: “Norm”, Wales Online reports.
Woody finds humour in the situation, saying: “These crazy party people I grew up with are now gardening, making puzzles and working in the local café. It’s very funny to see that transitional period, just as I’m kind of leaving the nest and now at the start of something big for me in music.”
During an interview with MailOnline, Woody opened up about his mother’s departure from BBC Radio 2, expressing his delight at having more time with her. “It’s lovely seeing my mum more, because obviously she’s had quite a weird schedule for the last few years.”
Zoe Ball announced her exit from the station just months after taking an extended break over the summer due to her mother’s death earlier in the year. During her absence, Scott Mills and Gabby Roslin stepped in, with Scott now set to take over the role permanently.
In an emotional on-air statement, Zoe shared her feelings about leaving: “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.”
Zoe made history as the first woman to host the Radio 1 Breakfast Show in 1998, a position she held until 2000. Additionally, she co-presented the BBC’s Saturday morning children’s programme Live and Kicking with Jamie Theakston for three years, starting from 1996.