Radio presenter Zoe Ball has been seen for the first time since she has been absent from her BBC Radio 2 show. The star, who has puzzled listeners by being off the show for six weeks, was seen laughing and smiling alongside her ex-husband, 61. The Radio 2 presenter was spotted with a group of people - including Norman Cook - outside a cafe in Hove, on Sunday.
Eyewitnesses say the broadcaster stayed there for just over an hour. Photos show her chatting and laughing with the group before walking along the beachfront. Zoe, 53, last appeared on her breakfast programme on August 8.
Her show has been covered with replacements including Scott Mills and Gaby Roslin . There is speculation that Zoe will return to her breakfast show next Monday. Schedules published by the BBC show her in that slot, with her temporary replacement Scott Mills returning to his afternoon slot.
A BBC Radio 2 spokeswoman would only say: "Zoe will return to the Radio 2 Breakfast Show later this month" But the show's blurb says: "Wake up and embrace the day with Zoe Ball and the team. Zoe keeps the tunes rolling on Maximum Music Monday." Speaking on August 12 show, Mills told listeners that he was unexpectedly taking over.
'If you set your alarm every morning to go off at 6:30am and normally Zoe comes on, please do not freak out. You have not overslept,' he told listeners. 'If you've just put us on this morning, it's Scott Mills in for Zoe for the next few weeks.
I'm sending you all my love Zo', as are the team.