Update on Zoe Ball’s BBC Radio 2 Role Amid Ongoing Absence from Breakfast Show
BBC Radio 2 has addressed concerns over Zoe Ball’s extended absence from her regular breakfast show. The beloved 53-year-old DJ has not been on air since August 8, with Scott Mills and Gaby Roslin stepping in during her time off. Zoe’s listeners had just welcomed her back from a break when she vanished again after only four days, leaving her slot filled for the past five weeks.
Scott Mills, Zoe’s stand-in host, conveyed a message to listeners on August 12, stating, “If you’ve just tuned in, it’s Scott Mills in for Zoe for the next few weeks. I’m sending you all my love Zo’ as are the team.” Addressing the swirling rumors surrounding Zoe’s return, the BBC assured fans that “Zoe will return to the Radio 2 Breakfast Show later this month.”
Despite this confirmation, speculation continues online, particularly as the Radio 2 website currently lists Scott Mills as the host for the upcoming broadcast on September 9. A vigilant Twitter user noted, “Scott is doing the breakfast show again next week in for Zoe,” leading to further assumptions that Scott may permanently take over the show, with one tweet expressing, “That’s now 5 weeks that he’s covered for her. I feel an announcement is coming that Scott will have the breakfast show full-time. Hope Zoe is okâ¤ï¸.”
Although the BBC has not disclosed the reason for Zoe’s absence, it has been a challenging year for the presenter. In April, Zoe took time off work to announce the passing of her mother, Julia Peckham, who succumbed to advanced pancreatic cancer at the age of 75. Tragically, just days after her mother’s death, Zoe also marked the anniversary of her ex-partner Billy Yates’ suicide. Billy, an Antiques Roadshow cameraman, took his own life in 2017 at the age of 40 while in a relationship with Zoe.