ZOE Ball has sold her country pad worth a staggering £2million and moved closer to her ex Fatboy Slim amid her disappearance from her BBC Radio 2 show.
A source revealed the 53-year-old DJ has swapped life in her rural Sussex estate – complete with swimming pool and tennis courts – for the “vibrant” surroundings of Brighton and Hove.
10
Zoe Ball sold her £2million stack ‘to get closer to her ex’ Fatboy SlimCredit: Getty
10
Her stunning countryside estate had a swimming pool, tennis court and acres of gardens Credit: Splash
10
Zoe and ex Fat Boy Slim with friends in Brighton at the weekend Credit: SWNS
10
Sources say the BBC Radio 2 DJ is looking for a ‘livelier’ environmentCredit: Splash
Zoe – whose return date to the BBC Breakfast Show was revealed following her “disappearance” – is now said to be holed up in a townhouse.
She previously shared pictures of her six-bed home in Sussex, which was built by Russian aristocrat Baron Vladimir de Wolff in the 1920s and is surrounded by acres of land.
The popular TV presenter previously lived there with her ex Michael Reed, but it seems she is keen for a fresh start.
Zoe called off her relationship with the model in May 2023 after five-and-a-half years together – with friends saying at the time that they had “gone their own way”.
A source has now told MailOnline that Zoe has moved in close to ex-husband and father of her two children Fatboy Slim, real name Norman Cook, who she divorced in 2020.
They told the publication that the move – which is understood to have taken place in August – was a ‘fresh start’, adding: ‘Zoe was clearly fed up with life in the country and wanted to move somewhere a bit more lively.
“She became really obsessed with making her house just the way she wanted it and was happy to order furniture and buy pieces to make it perfect.”
It came after it was revealed Zoe is set to return to air on September 23 – with Maximum Music Monday – and her son Woody also broke his silence on her whereabouts.
The listing reads: “Wake up and embrace the day with Zoe Ball and the team. Zoe keeps the tunes on Maximum Music Monday.”
Whether he returns next week remains to be seen.
Gary Lineker and Zoe Ball top the BBC’s highest-paid list – but scandal-mongering Huw Edwards is still in the top 3
Meanwhile, Woody opened up about his parent, telling Mail Online: “My mum and I like to keep our private lives to ourselves, but I will say that I’ve stepped up and been spending a lot more time with her lately because she’s always been there when I had a hard time.
– I’m glad to see her smiling.
Recently, an industry insider broke the silence about her disappearance from the Breakfast Show.
On Radio 2 they claim that “no one knows what is happening”.
10
Zoe and Fatboy Slim split in 2020 Credit: Getty – Contributor
Zoe Ball’s career so far
Zoe was born in Blackpool and is the daughter of children’s TV presenter Johnny Ball and his wife Julia.
In her youth, she appeared on television as part of the studio audience for the Saturday morning children’s show, Saturday Superstore, when her father was a guest.
The star began her career in broadcasting as a presenter in the preschool program Playdays.
After various behind-the-scenes roles, she earned her place as a regular host of Top of the Pops, alternating with Jayne Middlemiss and Jo Whiley.
In 1996, she was chosen to host BBC One’s Saturday morning show Live & Kicking, which led to a stint on Channel 4’s The Big Breakfast.
But she retained a major radio presence, being chosen to co-host BBC Radio 1 Breakfast alongside Kevin Greening in October 1997.
Zoe was later appointed as the show’s sole host in a groundbreaking move by the corporation as she was the first female DJ to hold the position.
In March 2000, the presenter decided to leave the station to start a family, where she was succeeded by Sara Cox.
A mainstream face on TV from scratch, she hosted a number of major programs for ITV, including the Brit Awards in 2002, Extinct in 2006 and Soapstar Superstar and Grease Is The Word in 2007.
She returned to radio in mid-2002 when she joined Xfm (later known as Radio X), where she was the voice of the weekday drive show until December 2003. In 2004, she replaced Ricky Gervais while he was filming the second series of The Office.
In October 2005, she appeared as a contestant in the third series of Strictly Come Dancing, where she was partnered with Ian Waite. The star impressed the audience with her legwork and the duo danced their way to third place.
In 2011, she returned to the franchise when she took over as host of the magazine’s spin-off show, It Takes Two.
She also filled in for Claudia Winkleman on the main show in 2014, when The Traitors star took a leave of absence after her daughter suffered serious burns.
After 10 years hosting the series, Zoe announced that she is leaving her role on BBC Two in May 2021.
Zoe’s journey on BBC Radio 2 began in 2006 when she hosted specialist documentaries. Over the years it has replaced names such as Dermot O’Leary, Ken Bruce and Chris Evans.
After a few shake-ups, she returned to the station permanently when she took over Dermot’s Saturday afternoon slot between 3pm and 6pm.
In October 2018, Chris Evans moved to Virgin Radio and personally announced that Zoe would be taking over his popular slot. She started hosting the breakfast show on January 14, 2019.
Earlier this month, the BBC released a statement on the broadcaster’s future after it “disappeared” from its early morning slot.
Zoe made her last appearance on her Breakfast Show on August 8 after a long absence from the air.
She has been partially replaced by former BBC Radio 1 presenter Scott Mills, 51, who has promised to return “in a few weeks”.
However, a month after his comments, a new wave of concern arose.
10
Zoe ‘disappeared’ from her BBC Radio 2 show this summer Credit: Instagram
10
Zoe and Fatboy Slim, real name Norman Cook, share two children togetherCredit: Getty Images – Getty
10
She gave up her perfect home to move to an area near Brighton and Hove Credit: Splash
10
Her home showcased her style Credit: Instagram
10
Built by Russian aristocrat Baron Vladimir de Wolff in the 1920s, the area is surrounded by acres of landCredit: Splash
Categories: Optical Illusion
Source: HIS Education