Zoe Ball pays a heartfelt tribute to her late boyfriend Billy Yates as she sees in her first Christmas without him
ZOE Ball has paid a touching tribute to her late boyfriend Billy Yates.
The cameraman, 40, took his life in May this year leaving the 46-year-old presenter devastated, and as she sees in her first Christmas without Billy, Zoe lit candles to remember him and other loved ones who had passed.
She captioned her Instagram image: “Candle lit in the window for our loved ones up in the stars.
“Always in our hearts beautiful ones, missing you all muchly especially at this time of year when we want our nearest & dearest close.
“Feeling grateful to be surrounded by love. Sending out some prayers & thoughts to those most needing them this Christmas.
“Peace & Love to all ✨✨✨ #merrychristmas #gratitude #healing #love #shootingstars #angels 🙏🏼”
Zoe was madly in love with Antiques Roadshow cameraman Billy Yates who she started dating after her marriage to DJ Norman Cook broke down.
After his death in May, a close friend told The Sun: “Zoe is overcome with grief. She is completely and utterly devastated.
“Billy had made her happy again after the most horrendous year when her marriage broke down.
“This was completely out of the blue. She had no feeling that this was coming and is in total shock.
“As far as we know this occurred at his house in London and it was friends who raised the alarm. She’s going to need a lot of time to grieve.
“This just feels so unfair because Zoe had finally found happiness with Billy and had so many exciting plans for their future.
“It’s devastating. There’s nothing else other than devastation today.”
Now, months later, the presenter is looking to the future and has started dating construction boss Michael Reed.
An insider explained: “It is great to see Zoe with a spring in her step — smiling and enjoying life again.
“She has had a tough time of it this year so deserves some happiness.
“It is early days with Michael but Zoe seems quite taken with him.
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“She left her girlfriends to go and meet him so that shows how keen she is.
“Michael is a charismatic guy and very handsome, so it is not hard to see the attraction.
“He is also not in showbiz, so hopefully that might make any relationship easier.”
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