Radio 2 DJ Zoe Ball and husband Norman Cook, also known as DJ Fatboy Slim, first met in Ibiza in 1998 but their relationship came to an end almost two decades later
BBC radio star Zoe Ball has revealed how she was determined not to repeat the same blunder as her parents following the breakdown of her marriage.
The Radio 2 presenter shares two children, Woody and Nelly, with former husband Norman Cook (more commonly known as DJ Fatboy Slim) before the duo parted ways in 2016 following 18 years together.
The pair initially crossed paths in Ibiza in 1998 but their romance reached its conclusion nearly two decades afterwards.
Recently, during a conversation with Jo Whiley on their Dig It podcast, the duo were listening to remarks from fans of the programme when one praised how brilliantly Zoe had been in handling shared parenting duties.
Reflecting on her earlier days when her parents separated, she was determined not to travel down the identical path her parents had taken.
Zoe was keen to preserve a friendly bond with the DJ following their decision to bring their marriage to a close, explaining: “My parents split up. It kind of really broke my heart to get divorced because I felt like the thing I did not want for my kids is what happened to me.”
While Zoe’s mum and dad allegedly didn’t remain in contact following their divorce in the 1970s, Zoe revealed how she was committed to sustaining a positive connection with her former partner for the sake of their two youngsters: “And so when Norm and I split up, we were still friends and it took time. But one of our things, right, we’ve got to do right by our kids and we’ve got to make this work for them.”
After her parents separated when she was merely two-years-old, Zoe was raised by her father Johnny and stepmother Di, not seeing her biological mother until her teenage years.
Nevertheless, having built a strong bond with her mum over time, Zoe took a break from her career last year when her mother Julia tragically died after fighting cancer.
In a heartfelt tribute to her late mum on X (formerly known as Twitter), she wrote: “Thank you for teaching us how to love unconditionally, to always show courage and empathy, and how, even in the darkest of days, laughter is the greatest of gifts.”
After their initial encounter in Ibiza, it wasn’t long before Zoe and Norman made their relationship official, announcing their engagement in 1999.
The following year witnessed Zoe welcoming their first child, Woody, with their second, Nelly, arriving a decade later. Yet, after 17 years as a couple, the pair chose to end their marriage and have shared parenting duties for their children ever since.
Recently, it appears their eldest might be poised to pursue a similar path to his father. The 24-year-old has already landed DJ sets at major events including Glastonbury, Boomtown and Brighton Pride.