Zoe Ball to make documentary about mental illness in honour of late boyfriend Billy Yates

ZOE Ball is making a TV documentary about mental illness in honour of her late boyfriend Billy Yates, who committed suicide last May.

The telly presenter, 47, said she was left with “lots of questions” when the cameraman, who battled depression, passed away and will speak to other sufferers to help come to terms with her loss.

The BBC programme will run alongside Zoe’s Sport Relief cycling challenge in March, which will include “miles to cover, hills to climb and a lot of chafing” to raise money for people with mental health issues.

Speaking on Chris Evans’ Radio 2 show yesterday, she said: “Lots of people know that I lost my boyfriend last year, who had been living with depression. I was left with lots of questions after that.

“So as well as doing this mammoth challenge, we’re also making a documentary, where I’m going to visit lots of projects that are helping people with mental health issues.”

The mum-of-two announced her split from her husband Norman Cook, also known as DJ Fatboy Slim, in September 2016 and she later started dating Billy.

But he was found dead at his south London home the following May, having struggled with depression and fallen victim to a financial scam.

She has since struck up a romance with businessman Michael Reed, 47, but said she wanted to make the documentary as a tribute to Billy.

She continued: “I was really touched by the amount of people who got in touch with me, and still are getting in touch with me, who have been trying to look after loved ones who are living with mental illness.

“I’ve got lots of questions to ask and I’m going to visit lots of projects that are giving people hope and are helping people. That’s kind of my motivation.

“I knew I wanted to do something. I knew that, you have a platform, I want to raise more awareness, I want to do something for him and I want to do something for everybody else.”