Zoe Ball headed shopping on Wednesday when she was spotted for the first time after announcing she was leaving her £950,000 role as presenter of BBC Radio 2’s Breakfast Show.
The host, 53, revealed on air that she will leave the show on December 20 after six years to “focus on family,” but will remain at the station.
24 hours after the announcement, Zoe seemed in good spirits as she shopped at luxury retailer Me & Em and had a juice.
The presenter, who has two children, Woody, 23, and Nelly, 14, with ex-husband Norman Cook, cut a casual figure in a green jumper, quilted coat and navy jeans for her outing in London.
Scott Mills, who currently presents Radio 2’s weekday afternoon show from 2-4pm, will take over Zoe’s breakfast slot in January.
Zoe had taken a mysterious six-week leave. as host over the summer, with Scott stepping in as her replacement, before returning in September.
Zoe Ball headed out shopping on Wednesday when she was spotted for the first time after announcing she was leaving her £950,000 role as presenter of BBC Radio 2’s breakfast show.
24 hours after the announcement, Zoe seemed in good spirits as she shopped at luxury retailer Me & Em and had a juice.
The host, 53, revealed on air that she will leave the show on December 20 after six years to “focus on family,” but will remain at the station.
Speaking about her departure from her show, Zoe said: “After six years of fun times alongside all of you on the breakfast show, I’ve decided it’s time to step away from the early wake-up call and start a new chapter.”
The veteran presenter said she was “delighted” to reveal her good friend Mill as her replacement, telling listeners: “Scott and I go back to our Radio 1 a long time ago, when he was performing early in the morning before than me.” He’s been a close friend for years and I’m beyond excited for him to be taking over the Breakfast Show.
‘Breakfast has always been her dream, and what a year she’s had: from running around the world to her beautiful wedding to Sam. He is not only a brilliant and flourishing producer, but also one of the best in radio. I can’t wait to tune in to the school tour!’
Reaction to the announcement on social media has been mixed, with one listener calling it “such a terrible replacement,” while another called this morning’s announcement “horrible news.”
Others have vowed to pull the plug as a result, with one saying it was “time to find another station.”
However, others have been more favorable, with responses including “fantastic news” and offering “huge congratulations” while describing him as “equally talented” as Zoe.
Mills joined his friend on her show this morning and said he was “beyond excited” to become a presenter.
Scott Mills, who currently presents Radio 2’s weekday afternoon show from 2-4pm, will take over Zoe’s breakfast slot in January.
The presenter cut a casual figure in a green jumper, a quilted coat and navy blue jeans for her outing in London.
Zoe appeared in good spirits a day after announcing she will be leaving her breakfast show next month.
Zoe enjoyed a juice while heading shopping in London.
The presenter recently split from her long-term partner Michael Reed, 53 (pictured in 2021).
Zoe has two children with her ex-husband Norman Cook; Woody, 23 years old (pictured) and Nelly, 14
He said: “Zoe and I have been very good friends for over 25 years and have spent much of that time as part of the same radio family here at Radio 2 and also at Radio 1. “She has done an incredible job on this program for over 25 years the last six years, and I am beyond excited to have the baton handed to me.
“It feels like since I recorded my first shows as a child for an audience of one person, my mother, all the roads since then have led me to this incredible opportunity. It really is a dream come true to follow in Sir Terry’s footsteps, Chris and Zoe to be the new presenter of the Radio 2 Breakfast Show.’
Ball was the BBC’s highest-paid TV presenter in 2023/24 with a salary of between £950,000 and £954,999, ranking second on the list of highest-earning talent behind Gary Lineker, according to the annual report of the corporation published in July. .
Lineker revealed he had been kicked out of Match of the Day earlier this month, in the latest in a series of high-profile exits from the BBC.
Ball was the first presenter of the Radio 1 Breakfast Show in 1998, a position she held until 2000, and was also co-presenter of the BBC’s Saturday morning children’s magazine Live & Kicking alongside Jamie Theakston for three years from of 1996.
Ball told listeners this morning: ‘You know, I think a lot about all of you listeners, and it really has been a great privilege to share the mornings with you, through life’s little ups and downs, we got through lockdown together. No?
‘We have shared a lot, the good moments, the difficult moments, there has been a lot of laughter. And I’m going to miss you cats.’
She added: “But I won’t miss the 4am alarm call, if I’m completely honest.”
In an official statement, he said: “After six incredible years on the Radio 2 breakfast show, it’s time for me to step away from the early mornings and focus on the family.” It has been a privilege.
“I think the world of you listeners, and I’m grateful to my bosses here for their support, especially this year.”
Ball said his last show will be on December 20, adding: “Just in time for Christmas with lots of fun and hijinks.”
‘Although I’m stepping away from the Breakfast Show, I’m not going to disappear completely: I’ll still be part of the Radio 2 family, with more news in the New Year.
“I’m excited to embrace my next chapter, including being a morning mom, and I can’t wait to tune in to the school run!”
The presenter’s decision to step away from the show comes after she sparked concern over a mysterious six-week absence from the airwaves.
In September, he returned to the air as normal, offering his fans a lively welcome and asking listeners, “What have I missed?”