Presenter Zoe Ball announces she will be taking a break from BBC Radio 2, revealing her replacement in wake of devastating family news.

Zoe Ball’s replacement for her Radio 2 show has been revealed after the presenter announced she was taking some time away from the show as her mother has been diagnosed with cancer.

The Radio DJ, 53, said she and her family were going through ‘tough times’ amid her mother Julia Peckham’s diagnosis but praised her for being ‘brave’.

She also took the time to thank her friend Gaby Roslin for stepping in for her in recent weeks, and suggested that the presenter, 59, would be covering her future shifts too.

Taking to social media to announce her break, Zoe concluded her message: ‘Thanks to Gaby for stepping in. Lots of love.’

Gaby commented on the post saying: ‘Love you Zoe and such huge love to your beautiful mummy.’

Zoe Ball ‘s replacement for her Radio 2 show has been revealed after the presenter announced she was taking some time away from the show as her mother has been diagnosed with cancer 

The Radio DJ, 53, said she and her family were going through ‘tough times’ amid her mother Julia Peckham’s diagnosis but praised her for being ‘brave’ (Zoe and Julia pictured in 2011)

She also took the time to thank her friend Gaby Roslin for stepping in for her in recent weeks, and suggested that the presenter, 59, would be covering her future shifts too (pictured in October)

Zoe shared a photo of her mother, 74, surrounded by family members along with another of her receiving chemotherapy.

Alongside the post, she wrote: ‘Heartbreakingly our beautiful Mama Julia has been diagnosed with Cancer. 

‘As many of you know from experience, these are extremely tough times. Mum is being incredibly brave.

‘My brother Jamie & I are completely in awe of the brilliant Doctors, Nurses & support teams looking after Mum. Thank you.

‘Gratitude to our families & our extended family & friends at home & at work for their support at this time.

‘Sending out love to people reading this who are battling cancer, or awaiting diagnosis & also to the folk looking after their dear ones who are poorly.’

Zoe added that Gaby Roslin would be filling in for her on her breakfast show while she spends time with her mother. 

She wrote: ‘I’m trying to be at work on breakfast as often as I can but occasionally need to be home with my Mama. Thanks to Gaby for stepping in. Lots of love ❤️’.

Taking to social media, Zoe said: ‘Thanks to Gaby for stepping in. Lots of love’ while Gaby commented: ‘Love you Zoe and such huge love to your beautiful mummy’ (pictured together with Chris Evans in 1996)

Zoe shared a photo of her mother, 74, surrounded by family members along with another of her receiving chemotherapy 

Zoe wrote: ‘Heartbreakingly our beautiful Mama Julia has been diagnosed with Cancer. ‘As many of you know from experience, these are extremely tough times’

Zoe presents The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show from 6:30am to 9:30am, having taken over from Chris Evans in 2019. 

She was inundated with well wishes from friends and followers after making the news of her mother’s diagnosis public. 

Actress Amanda Abbington wrote: ‘Sending you and your beautiful family so much love my darling. The most love.’

Fellow radio presenter Adele Roberts added: ‘Thinking of your amazing mum and sending so much love to you all.’

Julia Bradbury wrote: ‘So sorry to hear this Zoe. Wishing you and the family love & courage through this ❤️❤️’.

Former Strictly Come Dancing star Ola Jordan penned: ‘Sending you and your Mummy lots of love ❤️’. 

In a 2013 interview with The Mail on Sunday, Zoe told how after her parents split up, she lived with her father and step mother. 

She said: ‘I didn’t see my mum Julia for a few years – she was very young when she married my dad and had me, and when they parted I lived with my dad and my other ‘mum’, his wife Diane.’

Her mother went through a difficult period after the death of her third husband who had been diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2012.

‘I am looking after my mum a bit now; I see her pretty much every day. She is gorgeous,’ Zoe said at the time. 

She was inundated with well wishes from friends and followers after making the news of her mother’s diagnosis public

Zoe wrote: ‘I’m trying to be at work on breakfast as often as I can but occasionally need to be home with my Mama’ (pictured with her mother Julia in 2010)