Zoe Ball wipes away tears as she bids emotional farewell to BBC Radio 2 lunch after quitting her breakfast show to ‘focus on family’

On December 20, 2024By Littum

Zoe Ball appeared to be overcome with emotion as she was seen wiping away tears as she left lunch with her BBC Radio 2 colleagues on Tuesday.

The radio host, 54, enjoyed a farewell lunch at London’s chic Langan’s Brasserie and it was not without a tearful moment.

The star confirmed she left her breakfast show last month to ‘focus on family’ as she handed the reigns to her ‘bestie’ Scott Mills.

Amidst the laughter, Zoe was at one point seen wiping her eyes at the last festive get-together with her team.

Looking stylish, Zoe opted for an all black ensemble as she embraced a smart rock star look in black jeans and a blazer.

Completing the look with black boots, she was seen smiling from ear to ear as she left the restaurant carrying a large Selfridges bag.

Zoe Ball wiped away tears as she bids an emotional farewell to the BBC Radio 2 lunch at London’s posh Langan’s Brasserie on Tuesday

Looking stylish, Zoe opted for an all black ensemble as she embraced a smart rock star look in black jeans and a blazer

Amidst the laughter, Zoe was at one point seen wiping her eyes at the last festive get-together with her team

Last month, Zoe opened up about her own medical issues, revealing she was battling a painful health condition which has left her with ‘terrible’ headaches.

She later admitted that her early wake-up calls to her radio show have gotten worse as she is in excruciating pain from TMJ, which is exacerbated by stress.

TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint, which is the joint that connects your lower jaw to your skull in front of each ear.

TMJ disorders (TMDs) are a group of conditions that affect the TMJ and the muscles that control jaw movement.

Symptoms include jaw, neck and shoulder pain, headache, limited jaw movement or locking, dizziness and vision problems.

Zoe will host her final slot on December 20, before Mills, who currently hosts Radio 2’s weekday afternoon show from 5pm. 14 – 16, begins to front the program from the beginning of January.

The star said she is “really happy for my mate” as she and Scott posed for photographs outside New Broadcasting House.

She told reporters she is ‘so proud’ of Mills, 51, adding: ‘It’s all turned out nicely. I’m really happy for my mate and really excited about it.’

Zoe will host her final slot on December 20 before Scott Mills takes over the show in January

Completing the look with black boots, she was seen smiling from ear to ear as she left the restaurant carrying a large Selfridges bag

She struggles to contain her emotions as she closes the door to her Radio 2 chapter

The star was seen fixing her makeup in another shot

The star posed for a selfie with a fan after building a strong bond with his listeners over the years

Earlier in the day, Zoe was spotted heading to lunch

Zoe was also seen laughing and smiling as she reminisced with her colleagues

Ball was the BBC’s highest-paid female presenter in 2023/24, with a salary of between £950,000 and £954,999, ranking her second in the list of top-earning talent behind Gary Lineker, according to the corporation’s annual report published in July.

The speaker had taken a mysterious six-week absence as host over the summer – with Scott stepping in as her replacement – before returning in September.

Announcing the news to listeners, she said: ‘After six years of fun times with you all on the breakfast show, I’ve decided it’s time to step away from the early wake-up call and start a new chapter.’

The veteran presenter said she was ‘thrilled’ to unveil her good friend Mill, as her replacement, telling listeners: ‘Scott and I go way back to our Radio 1 days when he did early mornings before me. He’s been a close friend for years and I’m very excited that he’s taking over the breakfast show.

‘Breakfast has always been his dream and what a year he’s had – from running around the world to his beautiful wedding with Sam. He is not only a blooming genius producer, but one of the best in radio. I can’t wait to tune in to the school run!’.

Last month, Zoe opened up about her own medical issues, revealing she was battling a painful health condition which has left her with ‘terrible’ headaches

She later admitted that her early wake-up calls for her radio show have worsened as she has excruciating pain from TMJ, which is exacerbated by stress

The star said she is “really happy for my mate” as she and Scott posed for photographs outside New Broadcasting House

Ball was the BBC’s highest-paid female presenter in 2023/24 with a salary of between £950,000 and £954,999, ranking her second in the list of top-earning talent behind Gary Lineker, according to the corporation’s annual report published in July

Zoe carried her essentials in a leather bag

The star hailed a taxi

The presenter took a mysterious six-week absence as host over the summer – with Scott stepping in as her replacement – before returning in September

In an official statement, she said: ‘After six incredible years on Radio 2’s breakfast show, it’s time for me to step away from the very early mornings and focus on family’

She added: ‘It’s been a privilege’

Last week, the presenter told listeners how her daughter Nell needed a trip to A&E after dad Norman Cook, aka DJ Fatboy Slim, accidentally dropped a Christmas tree on her foot

The star assured her listeners that her daughter was fine and that her foot was only swollen, not broken, but she had been forced to miss the last day of term at school

In an official statement, she also said: ‘After six incredible years on the Radio 2 breakfast show, it’s time for me to step away from the very early mornings and focus on family. It has been a privilege.

‘I think you mean the world and I’m grateful to my bosses here for their support, especially this year.’

Last week, the presenter told listeners hbecause her daughter Nell needed a trip to A&E after dad Norman Cook, aka DJ Fatboy Slim, accidentally dropped a Christmas tree on her foot.

The star assured her listeners that her daughter was fine and that her foot was only swollen, not broken, but she had been forced to miss the last day of school.

She said: ‘Sending love to my Nell today. Today was supposed to be her last day of school. But unfortunately her father (Fatboy Slim) accidentally dropped a Christmas tree on her foot and she had to go to the ER yesterday.

‘She had an x-ray but it’s okay, it’s just swollen. She’ll be fine, but she was supposed to be skating with her friends from school today, but she won’t be able to get her foot in a boot. The things you don’t think will happen!

‘He’s obviously very apologetic, poor love. This does not happen. Bless her! But what a story to tell, so I’m sending her lots of love this morning.’

Zoe, who announced her split from Cook in 2016 after 18 years of marriage, also shares son Woody, 23, with the DJ and former Housemartins star.