Zoe Ball, a household name in radio and TV, is returning to screens this evening to host VE Day 80: A Celebration to Remember, with the programme airing on BBC One, May 8, at 8pm.
The 54-year-old recently revealed that she was leaving her coveted BBC Radio 2 Breakfast show, a role she’s cherished for six years. Zoe expressed her gratitude to her devoted listeners, saying, “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.”
Over the years, Zoe has been refreshingly candid about her romantic life, both on and off the airwaves. Earlier this year, she temporarily left her show and was spotted enjoying quality time with her ex-husband, Fatboy Slim, with whom she shares two kids, Woody, 24, and Nelly, 15.
Despite their amicable relationship now, the former couple has navigated a complex past. Zoe has been open about her infidelity during their marriage, which ultimately led to their separation, reports the Mirror.
Since then, she has faced the devastating loss of a boyfriend and is now reportedly embracing single life.
Let’s delve into Zoe Ball’s eventful love life…
Famous ex-husband
Zoe Ball and DJ Norman Cook, famously known as Fatboy Slim, were the ultimate ‘it’ couple of the late 90s and early 00s. The pair tied the knot in 1999 and had two children before ultimately parting ways in 2016.
The duo first hit a rough patch in 2003 when it came out that Zoe had an affair with one of Norman’s friends. Opening up to The Mirror in 2010 about the affair, Zoe owned up to her unhappiness at the time, citing a “mix of everything” for her infidelity.
The Radio 2 host spilled: “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.”
At that point, Zoe also acknowledged that starting a family contributed to her discontent, confessing that “reality hit me hard” after having kids.
She continued: “Norm and I met in Ibiza and lived this crazy, party life and got married within a year,” she reflected. “Then we had Woody, and suddenly I was all settled down. I thought, ‘Do you know each other?'”
Norman Cook, also known as the music maestro Fatboy Slim, and Zoe Ball reunited sweetly three months following their split in 2003. They subsequently welcomed a second addition to their family in 2010, only to see their marriage come to an end in 2016.
At the time of their separation, they shared this touching announcement: “With great sadness, we are announcing that we have separated. After many exciting adventures together over the last 18 year,s 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 and Norm.”
Still friends despite split
Staying true to their word, the pair has maintained a strong friendship post-breakup. Norman, famous for his ‘Praise You’ anthem, even dropped into Zoe’s radio show for a bit of light-hearted banter in June before Glastonbury.
In an emotional turn, Zoe took a step back from her radio hosting role, but made a comeback at the end of last September. Throughout her challenging period dealing with the heartbreaking loss of her mother, Norman was her rock.
Zoe was first seen out and about during her break from BBC Radio 2 with Norman, sharing laughs outside a Hove café with friends.
The radio star and Norman are said to be “spending more time together than ever” as Zoe navigates her grief, with a Hove-based friend revealing to the Daily Mail: “They always seem to be together.”
Another mate shared with the publication that the former couple have been showing up together at their son Woody’s DJ gigs.
The tragic loss of boyfriend Billy
In 2017, Zoe was dealt a devastating blow when her boyfriend, Billy Yates, died at just 40 years old. Reflecting on the loss of her late partner, a few years on, the mother-of-two confessed that coping with Billy’s death has been the most challenging ordeal she’s “ever had to deal with” in her lifetime.
Billy was a skilled cameraman and technician, contributing his talents to shows like the Antiques Roadshow, The Xtra Factor, and Famous and Fearless. Zoe and Billy were first spotted together in February 2017, marking Zoe’s first public relationship following her split from Norman.
Speaking about Billy, who died in May 2017, Zoe candidly discussed her late partner during an emotional interview on Desert Island Discs in February 2020. She remembered: “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.
“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.”
She added, “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 loves you. You doubt your friends care for you.”
Relationship breakdown
Much-loved radio personality Zoe was left heartbroken after calling time on her romance with dashing model Michael Reed following a five-year whirlwind of love. However, she’s now embracing the single life with gusto.
The bubbly former Live and Kicking host split from Michael last May, following reports that their relationship had naturally fizzled out. A close confidant shared, “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.”
Describing the early days as dazzling, the source reflected, “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,” revealing insights to The Sun.
A few months after her breakup, Zoe Ball made an appearance on Celebrity Gogglebox, where she seemed to relish her alone time. She shared a fun anecdote with her son Woody about a late-night solo dance party in her kitchen.
“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 confessed to her eldest while they were watching TV.
She continued: “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?” Woody, who starred in The Circle, found his mum’s story amusing and playfully asked if she was alright and “wanted to talk about it”. In response, Zoe burst into laughter and hid her face in her hands.