It’s UK radio’s most prestigious show, cherished by broadcasting legends from Sir Terry Wogan to Chris Evans . But while Zoe Ball entertained millions of listeners presenting the Radio 2 Breakfast Show, behind the scenes, BBC bosses had to fight to persuade her not to quit years before she finally announced her departure. This week’s announcement that Ball is leaving the high-profile show at Christmas after six years came as little surprise to friends and some within the industry.
She had only just returned to the airwaves after taking six weeks off in the summer and another absence earlier in the year, during which she announced the death of her mother, who had been diagnosed with cancer. An industry insider said the role of being the cheerful accompaniment to the nation’s school runs and commutes was taking its toll on the mother-of-two. “Zoe loved being on air but she was never going to be a Wogan who lived and breathed the breakfast show for 27 years,” they said.
“The 4am wake-up calls and missing Woody (son) and Nelly (daughter) in the mornings took their toll quite early on. “She had been thinking about leaving for a while. The BBC had to work hard to persuade her to stay on in her last contract negotiation a couple of years ago.
” Upon her return in September, Radio 2 boss Helen Thomas agreed it was best for Ball and the station to move ahead swiftly with a succession plan. Quitting also removed the added pressure on Ball of having to justify her £950.