Zoe Ball addresses 'tough year' after stepping down from BBC Radio 2

Zoe Ball has opened up about her 'tough year' after losing her mother and recently quitting BBC Radio 2 for the second time.

The presenter, 55, who was once one of the corporation's most-paid stars, signed off from her Saturday afternoon show last week.

It comes a year after she stepped down as host of the Breakfast show to 'focus on family' following her mother's death in April 2024.

Julia Peckham died after a battle with pancreatic cancer, with Zoe taking time off before and after her death.

Now, as she reflects on her year, Zoe admitted her friends have also had a tough 12 months.

She said: 'I know lots of my friends have had a really tough year this year. Lots of people worrying about money, people worrying about jobs.

'I'm so grateful we're all there for each other.' 

Zoe continued to The Mirror: 'As you get older, do you become a bit more, f*** it, do you stop worrying about things?

'I've been thinking about it. I don't know if that's true, because you might care less about some of the daft stuff that you used to worry about. But, actually, there's loads of other stuff to worry about.' 

She added: 'Life is a bit like Indiana Jones sometimes, isn't it? Like when the massive ball is running down the hill, you're like, 'for f***'s sake' just trying to deal with this.'  

Zoe previously fought back tears as she revealed she had an emotional breakdown following her mother's death and the sheer impact it had on her, revealing she was forced to take time off work following a breakdown.

Speaking on her Dig It podcast with Jo Whiley, Zoe said: 'I couldn't work. I was on the floor in the kitchen. I couldn't, I couldn't move.

'I had a proper emotional breakdown, you know, I haven't really talked about it actually. But it was, yeah, it was brutal.

'I had an amazing doctor who turned up at my door with coffee and bagels and said, "so, we need to get you some help", and he was wonderful.'

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Zoe Ball QUITS her BBC Radio 2 show after just seven months

Announcing her mother's death on social media, Zoe wrote: 'Sleep tight dear Mama.

'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. We are bereft without you but will hold so tight to each other.'

Announcing her exit from her weekend Radio 2 show and confirming Emma Willis will take over as host, Zoe said: 'I have loved being betwixt my dear friends [and fellow presenters] Romesh [Ranganathan] and Rylan, and you know, I love you all to bits, but I'm not disappearing completely'.

'Obviously, it'll be Christmas Crooners and I'm doing an Eras show in the New Year, more on that later. I am thrilled to tell you that you will be in the safest of hands, because there is a super woman who is no stranger to you all, but this does mean that she will officially become a member of the Radio 2 family.'

In an official statement Zoe said: 'Spending Saturday lunchtimes with the Radio 2 gang has been an absolute hoot, the listeners, the stories, and of course my weekly giggles with Romesh and Rylan'.