Zoe Ball has returned to ‘where it all began’ on BBC Radio 2 as her listeners gushed over her new debut on Saturday.
The radio presenter, 54, has returned to the station with her new Saturday afternoon show which saw the star play some of her favourite music and reconnecting with listeners.
Starting off her new segment she announced: Hello it’s me, oh it’s lovely to be back on a Saturday
‘This is where it all began for me back when I used to sweep up and make the teas.’
Happy to see the star’s return, a viewer wrote: ‘Great to have you back, Saturday afternoon is much better than having to wake up early’
After proceeding to read out some other well wishes she then added: ‘It is lovely to be here thanks for all your messages’.
Zoe Ball has returned to ‘where it all began’ on BBC’s Radio 2 programme as her listeners gushed over her new debut on Saturday
The radio presenter, 54, has returned to BBC Radio 2 with her new Saturday show which saw the star play some of her favourite music and reconnecting with listeners
Zoe stepped down from her BBC Radio 2 breakfast show in December to ‘focus on her family’, bidding farewell to her £950,000 salary.
Her departure came after an extended break earlier in the year when her mother Julia died from cancer, and she is now enjoying some time off with her family before returning in May with a new project.
In February, Radio 2 officially announced programme changes, including a new weekly show with Zoe (1-3pm).
She will also be hosting two specials, including a BBC TV show celebrating Elaine Paige’s 60-year career in showbusiness.
Helen Thomas, Head of Radio 2, said: ‘Zoe is one of the UK’s most loved presenters, so I’m thrilled to announce that she has a new home on Radio 2 on Saturday lunchtimes, plus she’ll be hosting various specials for us throughout the year.’
Zoe, who presented her last Radio 2 Breakfast Show on Friday December 20 after six years, most recently presented two episodes of Christmas Crooners over the festive period.
As previously announced, she will also host Elaine Paige: 60 Years in Showbusiness, a world exclusive concert honouring the extraordinary career of the station’s host of Elaine Paige on Sunday (1-3pm).
It comes after Zoe and Fatboy Slim’s son Woody Cook told how his parents have been ‘gardening’, ‘doing puzzles’ and working in a local café since she quit her six-figure radio job.
Zoe Ball will soon return to Radio 2 to present a new show – two months after leaving her breakfast slot with the channel
Radio presenter Zoe, 54, stepped down from her BBC Radio 2 breakfast show in December to ‘focus on her family’, bidding farewell to her £950,000 salary
In February Radio 2 officially announced programme changes, including a new weekly show with Zoe
After six years at the helm, Zoe handed her BBC Radio 2 breakfast show over to Scott Mills (seen together) after stepping down to ‘focus on family’ just months after her mother Julia’s death in April
It comes after Zoe and Fatboy Slim’s son Woody Cook told how his parents have been ‘gardening’, ‘doing puzzles’ and working in a café since she quit her six-figure radio job
Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, her son Woody, 24, gave an insight into how she has been spending her time since quitting her job, focusing on ‘gardening’ and ‘doing puzzles’.
He admitted it has been ‘funny’ watching his ‘crazy party’ parents Zoe and Norman Cook, also known as Fatboy Slim, ditching wild nights out for more calm hobbies.
‘In the last five years, it’s been funny watching my parents take up gardening both of them,’ Woody – who was promoting his Specsavers partnership – shared.
‘These crazy party people I grew up with are now gardening, making puzzles and working in the local café.
‘It’s very funny to see that transitional period, just as I’m kind of leaving the nest and now at the start of something big for me in music.’
Fatboy Slim has owned the Big Beach Cafe in Hove, East Sussex since 2013.
Zoe and Norman were known for their hard-partying ways back in the 2000s and have both since spoken about their battles with alcohol.
They tied the knot in 1999 and welcomed their son Woody and a daughter Nelly, 15, together before they split up in 2016, though they remain very close friends.
Woody also addressed his mother’s departure from her radio show, saying he is thrilled about her decision because he can now spend more time with her.
After six years at the helm, Zoe handed her BBC Radio 2 breakfast show over to Scott Mills after stepping down to ‘focus on family’ just months after her mother Julia’s death in April.
‘It’s lovely seeing my mum more, because obviously she’s had quite a weird schedule for the last few years,’ the Celebrity Gogglebox star, who lives in Bristol, said.
‘I’m actually gonna go spend some time with [my family] in Brighton soon to continue working on music because I might get more done not being with my mates Bristol.’
Woody said he barely saw his mother when she was working because she would wake up early for her radio show, while he would start his work as a DJ at midnight.
He shared: ‘I was just gassed [when she stepped down] because my schedule and her schedules are the opposite! I go to work at between 12am or 3am and my mum gets up to work at 4am, so I’m still awake from the day before when she’s waking up.
‘There were a lot of times when we were on literally the opposite schedules, so to have a bit more togetherness and be able to see each other more is nice.
‘I think it’s going to bring everyone together more, so I’m really excited. She’s worked so hard for it and there was a lot of stress with the job and everything, so I think it’s a great time for her to see her friends and family more.’
During Zoe’s time off, she jetted over to New York to spend time with Woody as he spent three months there making music, a time which meant a lot to The Circle star.
The proud son said he is overjoyed his mother now has more time to do the things she enjoys but teased that she still has some exciting career plans coming up.
Zoe will launch a Saturday show (1-3pm) from May, playing some of her favourite music and having lots of laughs while reconnecting with listeners
He shared: ‘All the things she’s been putting off or not had time to do, she can just do now.
‘And who knows what will come next? That might be the more you know up in the air, but at the moment, you know, she’s great and we’re definitely more of a family unit than we’ve ever been.’
Woody also told how the death of Zoe’s mother Julia, as well as his paternal grandmother’s passing on Christmas Day, has brought his family closer together.
‘We’re all coming together, last year made all of us remember how much we treasure everyone in our lives,’ he added. ‘With losing some people, it really brings everyone else closer together.’
