Showbiz

How Zoe Ball has battled booze and tragedies from partner’s suicide to failing eyesight and tragic death of mum --[Reported by Umva mag]

SHE is the unmistakable, upbeat voice of BBC Radio 2’s popular breakfast show. Yet behind the microphone, Zoe Ball has faced an overwhelming series of personal tragedies. BBCZoe is one of the most beloved radio presenters in the industry[/caption] BBCShe hosts the breakfast show on BBC Radio 2 but has been absent for weeks now[/caption] refer to caption.She has had to overcome several struggles in her personal life[/caption] InstagramThis year, her mum, Julia Peckham, died after she was diagnosed with cancer[/caption] Her absence from the airwaves in recent weeks has left fans concerned for her well-being. For the last five weeks, a slew of stars have filled in for the 53-year-old broadcaster. Neither Zoe nor the BBC have given any explanation for her absence. However, in recent years, the tragic loss of her mother to cancer and split with her partner of nearly six years, Michael Reed, has had a devastating impact on her. Having ditched the booze after years of partying, she also had to struggled to with not drinking again when her partner Billy Yates sadly killed himself. Despite so many struggles, Zoe has bounced back every time. Here we look at the brave presents tough times in recent years. Mum’s death In April this year, Zoe announced that her mum, Julia Peckham, had passed away following her cancer diagnosis. She announced the news with a post on social media that read: “Sleep tight dear Mama.” In a tribute, she said: “We are bereft without you but will hold so tight to each other. “Thank you for teaching us how to love unconditionally, to always show courage and empathy, and how, even in the darkest of days, laughter is the greatest of gifts.” Instagram/@zoetheballZoe said she was heartbroken when her mum was first diagnosed with cancer[/caption] She was estranged from her mum for 14 yearsInstagram Just days before the announcement, Zoe had revealed that Julia had been moved to hospice care after her condition became worse. Zoe and her mum spent 14 years estranged after her parents divorced when she was two years old. Zoe was raised by her father, Johnny Ball, and stepmum, Di. Although TV star Johnny never had a problem with her connecting with her mum, Zoe says she never responded to her birthday cards and presents. They reunited after Zoe got an invitation to her mum’s 40th birthday. Although she almost backed out of going at the last minute, she showed up at the party. Describing their reconciliation in an interview with the Mirror in 1997, she said: “I could hardly breathe. My heart started pounding like mad. I suddenly panicked: ‘What if we hate each other?’ “Mum hadn’t changed a bit, except she didn’t seem quite so tall. We spent such a lovely first day together… lots of crying and girlie emotion.” In July this year, she also opened up about her family’s pain after the loss of her stepfather, Rick, who died from motor neurone disease. Dedicating a portion of her show to rugby star Rob Burrow, who died after battling the condition, Zoe said: “I sobbed last night when I heard. “We lost our stepdad Rick to motor neurone disease. My mum looked after people and passed on advice to other families about what they’re going through and helped out the families in the Sussex area.” Alcohol issues News Group Newspapers LtdIn the 90s, Zoe was known as the poster girl for wild partying[/caption] Splash NewsShe later explained her alcohol intake was due to the insecurities she experienced[/caption] When she first burst onto the scene in the 1990s, Zoe was known as the poster girl for wild partying. Speaking to Grazia magazine in an interview, she said: “I loved it at first. Hanging out with people who partied every day, woke at 5pm, had a few shots of vodka and a bag of chips, then went clubbing again.” These days, she has taken a step back from the lifestyle and lives a much quieter one. She has said that her drinking came as a result of the insecurities she faced whenever she found herself with a big group of people. Hanging out with people who partied every day, woke at 5pm, had a few shots of vodka and a bag of chips, then went clubbing again. Zoe Ball In an interview, she explained: “It’s weird because you do this job and you are talking and are gregarious and all these things but I am actually quite shy. “You could be in a room full of musicians or you could be in a room full of people who were some of your heroes and you could feel like you could hold your own if you had some sort of prop or something that made you feel a bit more at ease. “But you could walk into the room if you’d had a drink.” Zoe sought help at rehab and, after several attempts to curb the habit, she finally overcame it. ‘Traumatic’ sp

Sep 19, 2024 - 18:22

How Zoe Ball has battled booze and tragedies from partner’s suicide to failing eyesight and tragic death of mum --[Reported by Umva mag]

SHE is the unmistakable, upbeat voice of BBC Radio 2’s popular breakfast show.

Yet behind the microphone, Zoe Ball has faced an overwhelming series of personal tragedies.

a woman wearing a black shirt that says rock & roll

Zoe is one of the most beloved radio presenters in the industry[/caption]

a woman is sitting in front of a microphone in a radio studio .

She hosts the breakfast show on BBC Radio 2 but has been absent for weeks now[/caption]

refer to caption.She has had to overcome several struggles in her personal life[/caption]

a woman wearing a tiara sits next to a younger woman

This year, her mum, Julia Peckham, died after she was diagnosed with cancer[/caption]

Her absence from the airwaves in recent weeks has left fans concerned for her well-being.

For the last five weeks, a slew of stars have filled in for the 53-year-old broadcaster.

Neither Zoe nor the BBC have given any explanation for her absence.

However, in recent years, the tragic loss of her mother to cancer and split with her partner of nearly six years, Michael Reed, has had a devastating impact on her.

Having ditched the booze after years of partying, she also had to struggled to with not drinking again when her partner Billy Yates sadly killed himself.

Despite so many struggles, Zoe has bounced back every time. Here we look at the brave presents tough times in recent years.

Mum’s death

In April this year, Zoe announced that her mum, Julia Peckham, had passed away following her cancer diagnosis.

She announced the news with a post on social media that read: “Sleep tight dear Mama.”

In a tribute, she said: “We are bereft without you but will hold so tight to each other.

“Thank you for teaching us how to love unconditionally, to always show courage and empathy, and how, even in the darkest of days, laughter is the greatest of gifts.”

a woman in a hospital bed wearing a t-shirt that says this morning is amazing and so are you

Zoe said she was heartbroken when her mum was first diagnosed with cancer[/caption]

a woman kisses a little girl on the cheek — She was estranged from her mum for 14 years

Just days before the announcement, Zoe had revealed that Julia had been moved to hospice care after her condition became worse.

Zoe and her mum spent 14 years estranged after her parents divorced when she was two years old.

Zoe was raised by her father, Johnny Ball, and stepmum, Di.

Although TV star Johnny never had a problem with her connecting with her mum, Zoe says she never responded to her birthday cards and presents.

They reunited after Zoe got an invitation to her mum’s 40th birthday. Although she almost backed out of going at the last minute, she showed up at the party.

Describing their reconciliation in an interview with the Mirror in 1997, she said: “I could hardly breathe. My heart started pounding like mad. I suddenly panicked: ‘What if we hate each other?’

“Mum hadn’t changed a bit, except she didn’t seem quite so tall. We spent such a lovely first day together… lots of crying and girlie emotion.”

In July this year, she also opened up about her family’s pain after the loss of her stepfather, Rick, who died from motor neurone disease.

Dedicating a portion of her show to rugby star Rob Burrow, who died after battling the condition, Zoe said: “I sobbed last night when I heard.

“We lost our stepdad Rick to motor neurone disease. My mum looked after people and passed on advice to other families about what they’re going through and helped out the families in the Sussex area.”

Alcohol issues

a woman in a cowboy hat holds a bottle of jack daniels

In the 90s, Zoe was known as the poster girl for wild partying[/caption]

a woman making a funny face in front of a sign that says ours

She later explained her alcohol intake was due to the insecurities she experienced[/caption]

When she first burst onto the scene in the 1990s, Zoe was known as the poster girl for wild partying.

Speaking to Grazia magazine in an interview, she said: “I loved it at first. Hanging out with people who partied every day, woke at 5pm, had a few shots of vodka and a bag of chips, then went clubbing again.”

These days, she has taken a step back from the lifestyle and lives a much quieter one.

She has said that her drinking came as a result of the insecurities she faced whenever she found herself with a big group of people.

Hanging out with people who partied every day, woke at 5pm, had a few shots of vodka and a bag of chips, then went clubbing again. Zoe Ball

In an interview, she explained: “It’s weird because you do this job and you are talking and are gregarious and all these things but I am actually quite shy.

“You could be in a room full of musicians or you could be in a room full of people who were some of your heroes and you could feel like you could hold your own if you had some sort of prop or something that made you feel a bit more at ease.

“But you could walk into the room if you’d had a drink.”

Zoe sought help at rehab and, after several attempts to curb the habit, she finally overcame it.

‘Traumatic’ split

a bride and groom pose for a picture on their wedding day

Zoe and Norman Cook, also known as Fatboy Slim were a power couple in the 90s[/caption]

a boy wearing a yellow bvb shirt smiles with his family

Since their split, they have become good friends and co-parent their two kids[/caption]

Zoe and their 13-year-old daughter Nelly[/caption]

Zoe has also suffered through high-profile heartbreaks and relationship dramas that have played out in the public eye.

In the 90s and early 2000s, her marriage to Norman Cook, also known as Fatboy Slim, kept their names in the headlines.

The pair met in 1997 when they worked for the BBC in Ibiza.

After developing a friendship that later turned romantic, they married in 1999 and had two kids, Woody, 23, and Nelly, 13.

They briefly split in 2003 after Zoe cheated with his pal DJ Dan Peppe.

Three months later, they got over the betrayal and reconciled.

But in 2016, they decided to end their relationship for good after 18 years.

At the time, they said they had “come to the end of our rainbow”.

In 2017, he said in an interview that their split had been “traumatic”.

But the pair are now in a much better place. In an interview, Zoe called him “the best dad”.

She also said: “He [Norman Cook] is such a good friend and a good guy. It’s not always been easy and it’s taken time.

“He’s been through a lot, I’ve been through a lot, but now we’re in a great place as parents together.”

Partner’s suicide

a man and a woman wearing sunglasses are posing for a picture

In 2017, Billy Yates killed himself just months after he began dating Zoe[/caption]

a man wearing sunglasses and a hat that says nuer on it

Zoe says his tragic death was one of the hardest things she has ever had to deal with[/caption]

In 2017, when she was pictured with Billy Yates, it appeared that Zoe had found love again after splitting from DJ Fatboy Slim.

Even her telly star dad Johnny, seemed to be pleased with her newfound romance.

He said: “We are very happy that she is finding a new lease on life.

“She is very happy at the moment, and that is lovely.”

He got on his bike and he cycled off and he turned round and he blew me a kiss goodbye, and that was the last time I saw him. Zoe Ball

But a few months into their relationship, in May of that year, he killed himself at his home in Putney, South London.

His death devastated Zoe with friends saying she was dealing with an overwhelming sense of shock and grief.

The following year, Zoe broke down in tears as she discussed the last time she saw him alive.

“He got on his bike and he cycled off and he turned round and he blew me a kiss goodbye, and that was the last time I saw him”, she said.

Zoe Ball's career so far

Zoe was born in Blackpool and is daughter of the children’s TV presenter Johnny Ball and his wife Julia.

She appeared on television at a young age as part of the studio audience of the Saturday morning children’s show, Saturday Superstore when her father was a guest.

The star began her career in broadcasting as a presenter on the pre-school programme Playdays.

After various behind the scenes roles, she earned a spot as a regular host of Top of the Pops, when she alternated with the likes of Jayne Middlemiss and Jo Whiley.

In 1996, she was chosen to front BBC One‘s saturday morning show Live & Kicking, which led to stints on The Big Breakfast on Channel 4.

But she maintained a huge presence on the radio as she was chosen to be the co-host of BBC Radio 1 Breakfast alongside Kevin Greening in October 1997.

Zoe was later appointed the sole host of the show in a groundbreaking move by the corporation as she was the first female DJ to hold the post.

The presenter chose to leave the station in March 2000 to start a family, where she was succeeded by Sara Cox.

As a mainstream face in TV through the noughties, she hosted a range of huge programmes for ITV, including the Brit Awards in 2002, Extinct in 2006, and both Soapstar Superstar and Grease Is The Word in 2007.

In mid-2002, she returned to radio when she joined Xfm (later known as Radio X), when she was the voice of the weekday drivetime show until December 2003. In 2004, she stood in for Ricky Gervais while he filmed the second series of The Office.

In October 2005, she appeared as a contestant on the third series of Strictly Come Dancing, where she was partnered with Ian Waite, The star impressed viewers with her footwork and the duo waltzed into third place.

In 2011, she returned to the franchise as she took over as the host of the magazine spin-off show, It Takes Two.

She also filled in for Claudia Winkleman on the main show in 2014, when The Traitors star took leave after her daughter suffered serious burn injuries.

After 10 years fronting the show, Zoe announced she was quitting her role on BBC Two in May 2021.

Zoe’s journey in BBC Radio 2 started in 2006 when she fronted specialist documentaries. Over the years she sat in for names such as Dermot O’Leary, Ken Bruce and Chris Evans.

After several shake-ups, she returned to the station on a permanent basis when she took over Dermot’s Saturday afternoon slot between 3pm and 6pm.

In October 2018, Chris Evans moved to Virgin Radio and he personally announced that Zoe would take over his popular slot. She started presenting the breakfast show on 14 January 2019.

“And I feel really grateful that I got my goodbye in a way. And I think that was my goodbye.”

She also spoke about how her sobriety helped her with the grieving process.

She wrote on Instagram: “Special moment. 2 years no booze – through two of the toughest years of my life, I’m not sure I’d have survived intact had it had not been for my sobriety & #recovery.”

Speaking to the BBC, she said: “Billy was my partner, we’d been friends for years and we got together. He suffered with depression for a huge chunk of his life. And 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.”

In 2020, she added to Red magazine: “I believe I was in shock for two years afterwards. It’s like you can’t see beyond putting your feet on the floor and getting out of bed each day.

“Since losing Billy, I’ve met lots of people who’ve helped me have a better understanding of the complexities of mental health.

“But also, it’s key to remember there is help available for people living with mental health issues and there is hope.”

More heartbreak

After Billy’s death, Zoe found love again in December 2017 when she began dating Michael Reed.

At the time, a source told The Sun: “She has had a tough time of it this year so deserves some happiness.”

But after five and a half years of dating, their relationship came to an end last year.

An insider said: “Zoe is gutted. This is a relief to many of her friends, who think she has done the right thing. They were arguing over really silly things and it all got a bit too much for her.

“They had a wonderful romance at first and Michael was a real gent. But in recent months they started spending a lot less time together, went away on separate holidays, and drifted apart.

“Now it seems the relationship has finally run its course. She asked him to move out and he has done so, although they have remained on good terms.

“Hopefully, Zoe will move on and find the happiness she deserves.”

Health woes

a woman wearing a white shirt that says billy tate — She has also opened up about struggles with her emotions and water retention

Zoe has been frank about her struggles with the menopause. In a conversation with musician Billy Joel on her show last year, she disclosed that she had difficulties with her eyesight.

When Billy joked that he couldn’t see himself in the mirror, Zoe said: “It’s a great idea. Just take the mirrors down. My eyesight has gone with menopause, and I can’t see myself. It’s great.”

According to Vision Express, it is not uncommon for women going through the stage to experience problems with their eyes, including blurred vision, dry eyes, and even glaucoma.

Since admitting that she began the menopausal process at 46, she has spoken about other symptoms she has experienced.

In 2021, she opened up about how she felt some of the symptoms during an interview with Hollywood legends Al Pacino and Robert De Niro.

She said: “So the interview was going great, but suddenly I could feel it coming.

“This great heat. It’s kinda damp as well, and you go quite red. My glasses were steaming up and sliding down my nose in this great heat, in this tiny room.

“And I could see Al Pacino looking at me sort of willing me to get to the end of the question, which had no point to it by now, since I was on fire.”

In a chat with former EastEnders star Tamzin Outhwaite, Zoe spoke about the emotional aspects of the condition.

She said: “There’s ‘meno madness’, you get rage, you get sobbing, you get heat, you get terrible anxiety, you pile on the hormonal pounds – just stop me on the list here.”

On social media, she also opened up about how she has been experiencing water retention, which causes swollen legs, another symptom of menopause.

She wrote: “Been struggling this past year with my menopause weight gain and water retention and all sorts.

“Trying to jumpstart a healthier routine. Have been learning lots about supplements and teas and diet and ways to combat menopause madness – will keep sharing any good finds…”

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