Zoe Ball has made a return to BBC Radio 2 with a new Saturday afternoon programme, after stepping away from the weekday breakfast show in 2023. The popular presenter, who hosted the early morning slot for five years, spoke warmly to listeners during her comeback broadcast, reminiscing about her early days at the station. “This is where it all began for me,” she said, noting how she once made teas and did early shifts before eventually moving into prime presenting roles.
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Ball confessed that since stepping away from the weekday breakfast schedule, she’s been enjoying the perks of a less punishing timetable. “I’ve had a few lie-ins,” she joked, adding that people have learned “not to phone me before half-past nine.” Her relaxed new rhythm marks a shift from the 4am starts that defined her breakfast show tenure. She now occupies a weekend afternoon slot, once filled by Rylan Clarke.
Her decision to step down from the morning show came during a difficult personal period. In April 2024, Ball took leave to care for her mother, Julia, who had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Her mother sadly passed away the same month. Ball paid tribute on Instagram, later confirming in November that she would permanently leave the breakfast programme. She presented her final episode in December, with Scott Mills taking over the coveted slot.
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Ball originally replaced Chris Evans in 2019, making history as Radio 2’s first full-time female breakfast presenter. As she signed off her final show, she said: “Pretty cool to be the first lass to host and I won’t be the last. Remember girls, you can do anything.” Her return to weekend radio signals not just a new chapter in her career, but a celebration of resilience, change, and personal growth.
