Zoe Ball wellbeing update as father opens up about star’s exit from BBC Radio 2 breakfast show: ‘had various problems’
Zoe Ball’s father Johnny, 86, has spoken candidly about his daughter’s wellbeing since quitting her BBC Radio 2 breakfast show last year.
The 54-year-old presenter stepped down from the coveted morning slot at the end of 2024, after six years at the helm.
In a recent interview with Saga Magazine, Johnny revealed his daughter is thriving since leaving the show she had hosted since taking over from Chris Evans in 2019.
Scott Mills replaced her in January after she announced her departure to “focus on family”.
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Zoe’s decision to leave came after a difficult period following the death of her mother, Julie Peckham, who died from cancer in April 2024 at the age of 74.
She had previously taken time off to care for her mother, who was diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer earlier that year.
At the time of her mother’s death, Zoe said her family were “bereft” without her.
“Her mum died last year and she’s had various other problems,” Johnny explained to Saga, revealing some of the challenges his daughter had faced.
In November, after announcing her departure, Zoe revealed she suffers from temporomandibular joint disorder, which affects the movement of the jaw.
The condition causes her to wake up “most days with awful headaches” due to pain in the jaw joint and surrounding muscles.
“She’s chuffed to have packed in the Radio 2 breakfast show,” her father assured, noting the toll the early schedule had taken on her.
“Her days used to start at 4am and by the time it got to midday she was knackered,” Johnny explained about the gruelling schedule his daughter previously endured.
Johnny added that his daughter has “realised every day has 24 hours now” since leaving the breakfast show.
The TV presenter revealed Zoe had visited him recently and told him: “I’m in such a good place.”
“Zoe’s taken to broadcasting as well as I did – in fact, she’s done better than me. She’s earned considerably more money from it,” he proudly told the magazine.
Zoe was the BBC’s highest-paid on-air female presenter in 2023/24, with a salary between £950,000 and £954,999.
Her son Woody later revealed his mother was adapting to a slower pace of life, even working in a beachside café owned by her ex-husband Fatboy Slim.