Zoe Ball quits BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show as she makes emotional on-air announcement
by Rose Hill · ChronicleLiveZoe Ball has bid farewell to BBC Radio 2's Breakfast Show. She broke the news to her listeners today, announcing that she will be leaving the weekday morning slot in December.
This announcement comes on the heels of Ball taking an extended break over the summer due to the passing of her mother earlier in the year. During her absence, presenters Scott Mills and Gabby Roslin stepped in.
Whilst her successor has not yet been revealed, the station is set to confirm the new host later today. On-air, Zoe explained that after six years, she felt it was the right time to "start a new chapter" and escape the early mornings, but assured fans she would continue collaborating with Radio 2 post-departure.
She expressed her sentiments saying: "Ok you lovely bunch, I have some news. After six years of fun times alongside you all on the Breakfast Show, I've decided it's time to step away from the early alarm call and start a new chapter. You know I think the world of you all listeners, and it truly has been such a privilege to share the mornings with you, to go through life's little ups and downs, we got through the lockdown together, didn't we? "
"We've shared a hell of a lot, the good times, the tough times, there's been a lot of laughter. And I am going to miss you cats. I'm going to miss my amazing Prod Squad who I adore. Already missing Mike, I'm going to miss Tina and Richie. They've all become like family to me, like you lot. But I won't miss the 4am alarm call, if I'm completely honest. So my last Breakfast show will be with you on the 20th of December and then its high kicks all the way to Christmas, gang", reports the Mirror.
"I'm not going to be a stranger, I'm staying in the Radio 2 crew and family because it's an amazing family - as we saw last week with Paddy's fantastic Children in Need challenge- and I'll have more news on that in the New Year. I just want to say I'm so grateful to my incredible boss ladies, to Helen and Laura and Lorna and Fiona, they have always been so supportive of me especially in this job and particularly this year, so thank you ladies.
"Now of course it leaves us with a big question, who is going to wake you up in the mornings? Well the good news is you don't have to wait very long to find out. I am going to reveal the brand new host of the Radio 2 Breakfast Show on this show this morning . But for now, know I love you all to bits and this song from Supertramp seemed like a good one to play."
Zoe made history as the first woman to host the Radio 1 Breakfast Show, beginning in 1998 and continuing until 2000. Her role was iconic alongside Jamie Theakston for Live and Kicking, bringing fun to Saturday mornings from 1996 for three years.
Helen Thomas, Head of Radio 2, praised her tenure saying, "Zoe has woken up the nation on Radio 2 with incredible warmth, wit and so much joy since January 2019, and I'd like to thank her for approaching each show with as much vim and vigour as if it were her first. I'm thrilled that she'll remain an important part of the Radio 2 family."
Zoe's vibrant career also includes hosting duties on Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two and ITV's Mamma Mia! I Have A Dream reality contest.
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