Former BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show presenter Zoe Ball has admitted she’s second-guessing her decision to leave the show to spend more time with her family
Zoe Ball has shared a hint of regret after quitting her £950,000 Radio 2 job last year in a bid to spend more time with her children.
Announcing the news live on air in November 2024, Zoe, 54, told listeners that she will be stepping down as presenter of the weekday Radio 2 Breakfast Show from December 20.
The shock announcement at the time came just months after her extended absence from the show during the summer following her mother’s death early last year. During that time, fellow radio hosts Scott Mills and Gabby Roslin filled in with her, with Scott later being confirmed as Zoe’s permanent replacement.
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In a statement on air, Zoe said at the time that she believed it was time to “start a new chapter” after six years of early starts and confessed that she was desperate to spend more time with her children and family. However, she confirmed that she would be still be working with Radio 2 in some capacity after her exit.
The much-loved radio presenter said: “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?”
She continued: “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.”
However, almost one year on from quitting her highly sought after Radio 2 job, Zoe has asked: “What did I give it up for?” in a candid confession.
The radio star has admitted that she has been questioning why she decided to give up her Breakfast Show to spend time with daughter Nelly, 15, when the teenager is never at home and is always out and about with her friends.
Zoe shares Nelly, and son Woody, 24, with her ex-husband Norman Cook, and sacrificed her £950,000 salary after six years to ‘focus on family’. However, she is now rethinking her decision and admitted that she’s been asking herself was it all worth it.
Speaking on the Parenting Hell podcast with Rob Beckett and Josh Widdicombe, the mum-of-two confessed: “I gave up work because she’s going to do her GCSEs but she’s never there. She’s out with her mates. I’m like, “I’ve given up work for you”‘.
“I am like “What did I give up for?” Yeah, I have thought about it because I’ve been through this a bit with Woody, but I had the joy of having Nell still around. I don’t know.”
Zoe then went on to admit that a part of the reason why she quit her job was to be there for Nelly during the most difficult teenage years. She told the podcast: “For girls, 15 is booze and boys. It’s a nightmare. It’s an absolute mind-fielder.
“I’ve made sure that I’m at shows and matches and stuff like that. But it’s only since giving up the breakfast show that I now do the school run in the morning and I love it,” she added.
“You know, she’s 15, so she doesn’t really want to talk. She doesn’t really want you to drive her to school, if anything.”
Zoe, who took over from Chris Evans in 2018, was revealed to be the highest paid female at the BBC in 2024, earning between £950,000 and £954,999, while Radio 1 breakfast show host Greg James was paid between £415,000 and £419,999.
She was still someway behind Match of the Day host Gary Lineker, who raked in between £1,350,000 and £1,354,999 over the last 12 months.
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