Zoe Ball quits BBC Radio 2 as she makes shock on-air announcement
Radio 2 presenter Zoe Ball made the announcement live on air to listeners as she revealed her plans for the future
Zoe Ball has quit BBC Radio 2.
Announcing the news live on air today, she told listeners that she will be stepping down as presenter of the weekday Radio 2 Breakfast Show in December.
The news comes just months after her extended absence from the show during the summer following her mother's death earlier this year. During that time, fellow radio hosts Scott Mills and Gabby Roslin filled in for her, though her replacement from December has not yet been confirmed.
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She said: "OK you lovely bunch, I have some news. After six years of fun times alongside you all on the Breakfast Show, I've decided it's time to step away from the early alarm call and start a new chapter. You know I think the world of all you listeners, and it truly has been such a privilege to share the mornings with you, to go through life's little ups and downs, we got through the lockdown together, didn't we?
"We’ve shared a hell of a lot, the good times, the tough times, there’s been a lot of laughter. And I am going to miss you cats. I'm going to miss my amazing Prod Squad who I adore. Already missing Mike, I'm going to miss Tina and Richie. They've all become like family to me, like you lot. But I won’t miss the 4am alarm call, if I'm completely honest. So my last Breakfast show will be with you on the 20th of December and then its high kicks all the way to Christmas, gang.
"I'm not going to be a stranger, I'm staying in the Radio 2 crew and family because it's an amazing family - as we saw last week with Paddy’s fantastic Children in Need challenge- and I’ll have more news on that in the New Year. I just want to say I’m so grateful to my incredible boss ladies, to Helen and Laura and Lorna and Fiona, they have always been so supportive of me especially in this job and particularly this year, so thank you ladies."
Scott Mills will be the new presenter of the legendary Radio 2 Breakfast Show each weekday morning, moving on from the weekday afternoon programme from 2pm until 4pm
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