ZOE Ball’s son has spoken out about her mysterious Radio 2 disappearance, with colleagues admitting it’s “all very awkward”.
The 52-year-old is due to return to the airwaves on Monday – with Maximum Music Monday.
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Zoe Ball was away from work at Radio 2Credit: PA
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The presenter will return to air later this monthCredit: BBC
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Zoe’s son Woody broke his silenceCredit: PA
The listing reads: “Wake up and embrace the day with Zoe Ball and the team. Zoe keeps the tunes on Maximum Music Monday.”
But it remains unclear whether Zoe will return to the studio amid ongoing concerns over her absence.
Zoe hasn’t been on The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show since she made a brief return on August 8, after her summer hiatus.
Both Gaby Roslin and Scott Mills participated.
Now her son Woody has spoken out about his mum, 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, as she always has was there when I had hard times.
– I’m glad to see her smiling.
He spoke after Zoe was seen with his dad and her ex Fat Boy Slim relaxing with friends in Brighton on Sunday.
It comes as the radio star’s team remain tight-lipped about her absence, although a source told the Mail: “This is all very tricky.'”
Zoe is usually on air Monday to Friday from 6.30am for breakfast show Zoe Ball.
However, she missed out on her show in August and was replaced by former Radio 1 presenter Scott Mills, 51.
The presenter was missing for five weeks before the BBC later released a statement after Zoe disappeared from her show.
Last week a spokesperson for the station told The Express: “Zoe will return to the Radio 2 Breakfast Show later this month.”
Zoe Ball misses the Radio 2 show and is replaced by a colleague at the last minute
Scott told listeners Zoe would be “back in a couple of weeks” – and a month after his comments sparked a fresh wave of concern.
A source told MailOnline that mystery surrounds Zoe’s absence and said: “No one knows what happened but everyone loves Zoe
“We hope everything is fine.
“Zoe is so loved on the BBC so not having her around is really noticeable
Back in August, Scott took over the show, and without speaking directly about Zoe’s circumstances, confirmed that the team was “sending their love”.
Opening the three-hour episode at 630am, Scott said: “Good morning.
“You weren’t expecting me, were you? Welcome to Monday. This is Scott Mills.”
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 of hosting the series, Zoe has 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.
He added: “If you set your alarm every morning to go off at 6.30am and Zoe usually comes on, please don’t panic.
“You didn’t sleep. I’m here doing the Breakfast Show, don’t panic. It’s early.
“Don’t be late for work. It’s Monday, August 12th.”
Later, Scott highlighted Zoe’s absence and said: “If you just signed us up this morning, Scott Mills is in for Zoe for the next couple of weeks.
“Sending you all my love Zo as well as the team.”
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Zoe taken in 2023 Credit: Getty
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