Zoe Ball’s return to BBC Radio 2 officially confirmed by bosses after weeks off air
An insider has also shared how excited her team are that she's back in the hot seat
ZOE Ball’s return to BBC Radio 2 has been officially confirmed by bosses.
The popular DJ has been missing from the airwaves for weeks after mysteriously disappearing.
However, fans will hear Zoe’s voice from Monday morning as schedules confirm she’s returning to the studio.
Listings reveal Zoe will host her Maximum Music Monday show from 6:30am.
It will mark the first time Zoe has been on air since August 8.
The 53-year-old had returned from a holiday break only to depart once again, leaving fans confused.
Beeb star Scott Mills had been standing in for Zoe, but now her team are said to be excited she’s finally back in the hot seat.
An insider told The Sunday Mirror: “Zoe’s been through a lot lately but she’s battled through and is keen to get back to work.
“Scott’s done a great job but the team are looking forward to welcoming Zoe back.”
When Scott suddenly replaced Zoe last month, he told fans: “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.”
Zoe’s return comes after it was revealed she sold her stunning £2million countryside house and moved closer to her ex Fatboy Slim.
A source said she has traded in life in her rural Sussex pad – complete with a swimming pool and tennis courts – for the more “lively” surroundings of Brighton and Hove.
Zoe was left devastated earlier this year when her mum Julia died off pancreatic cancer.
Previously speaking about his mum, Zoe’s son Woody Cook told the MailOnline: “My mum and I like to keep our private lives to ourselves but I will say I have stepped up and spent a lot more time with her recently as she has always been there when I’ve had tough times.
“I’m glad to see her smiling.”
Zoe Ball's career so far
Zoe was born in Blackpool and is daughter of the children’s TV presenter Johnny Ball and his wife Julia.
She appeared on television at a young age as part of the studio audience of the Saturday morning children’s show, Saturday Superstore when her father was a guest.
The star began her career in broadcasting as a presenter on the pre-school programme Playdays.
After various behind the scenes roles, she earned a spot as a regular host of Top of the Pops, when she alternated with the likes of Jayne Middlemiss and Jo Whiley.
In 1996, she was chosen to front BBC One‘s saturday morning show Live & Kicking, which led to stints on The Big Breakfast on Channel 4.
But she maintained a huge presence on the radio as she was chosen to be the co-host of BBC Radio 1 Breakfast alongside Kevin Greening in October 1997.
Zoe was later appointed the sole host of the show in a groundbreaking move by the corporation as she was the first female DJ to hold the post.
The presenter chose to leave the station in March 2000 to start a family, where she was succeeded by Sara Cox.
As a mainstream face in TV through the noughties, she hosted a range of huge programmes for ITV, including the Brit Awards in 2002, Extinct in 2006, and both Soapstar Superstar and Grease Is The Word in 2007.
In mid-2002, she returned to radio when she joined Xfm (later known as Radio X), when she was the voice of the weekday drivetime show until December 2003. In 2004, she stood in for Ricky Gervais while he filmed the second series of The Office.
In October 2005, she appeared as a contestant on the third series of Strictly Come Dancing, where she was partnered with Ian Waite, The star impressed viewers with her footwork and the duo waltzed into third place.
In 2011, she returned to the franchise as she took over as the host of the magazine spin-off show, It Takes Two.
She also filled in for Claudia Winkleman on the main show in 2014, when The Traitors star took leave after her daughter suffered serious burn injuries.
After 10 years fronting the show, Zoe announced she was quitting her role on BBC Two in May 2021.
Zoe’s journey in BBC Radio 2 started in 2006 when she fronted specialist documentaries. Over the years she sat in for names such as Dermot O’Leary, Ken Bruce and Chris Evans.
After several shake-ups, she returned to the station on a permanent basis when she took over Dermot’s Saturday afternoon slot between 3pm and 6pm.
In October 2018, Chris Evans moved to Virgin Radio and he personally announced that Zoe would take over his popular slot. She started presenting the breakfast show on 14 January 2019.