Zoe Ball is set to appear as a guest judge on the latest season of Celebrity MasterChef, which returned to screens on Monday, August 18. She joins guest stars Paddy McGuiness and Morgan Burtwistle, also known as Angry Ginger, in setting challenges for the celebrity contestants. The judging duo of Grace Dent and Giorgio Locatelli will be assisted by the trio throughout the series.
Romantic Relationships and Family
Zoe was married to Fatboy Slim DJ Norman Cook for 18 years, and they share two children, Woody and Nelly. The couple married at Babington House in Somerset in 1999 but separated in 2003 following revelations of an affair. They reunited three months later, but in 2016 confirmed their relationship had "come to the end of our rainbow."
Shortly after, Zoe was photographed with Antiques Roadshow cameraman Billy Yates, who died in May 2017 at age 40. 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."
In 2023, the 55-year-old broadcaster ended her five-year relationship with Michael Reed. A source told the Daily Mail she was "gutted" but "better off without Michael," adding that the relationship had "finally run its course." Since June 2025, Zoe has been in a relationship with TV production designer Mathieu Weekes, who runs Bizibot Productions, though she jokingly refers to him as her "lodger" on her podcast, Dig It.
Career Highlights and Strictly Snub
Zoe began her career as a runner at Granada Television and a researcher for the Cool Cube on BSkyB, before landing roles on The Big Breakfast, The Priory, Live and Kicking, and SMart. She later became a familiar face on Top of the Pops and co-hosted the 2002 Brit Awards with Frank Skinner. Her portfolio also includes Strictly Dance Fever, Soapstar Superstar, Grease Is The Word, and Celebrity Gogglebox.
As a contestant, Zoe competed in the third series of Strictly Come Dancing, finishing third with partner Ian Waite. In 2011, she succeeded Claudia Winkleman as host of It Takes Two, a role she left in 2021. Despite her history with the show, she was not chosen as the new Strictly host following the departure of Claudia and Tess Daly; instead, Emma Willis, Johannes Radbe, and Josh Widdicombe will take over in September. Zoe said on her podcast: "I didn't get it, but it's okay. I have worked through the seven stages of grief and rejection over the last couple of days."
Her radio career is equally notable: in 1997, she became the sole female presenter of BBC Radio 1's Breakfast show, later moving to Xfm and then Radio 2, where she took over The Radio 2 Breakfast Show from Chris Evans in 2018. After stepping down in 2024, she moved to a Saturday afternoon show in 2025. In July 2026, it was confirmed she would join Greatest Hits Radio for a new weekday afternoon show from September. She said: "It's a lovely shift, it's 1pm until 4pm... I'll be playing great music from the 70s, 80s and 90s."
Famous Father and Net Worth
Zoe is the daughter of television presenter Johnny Ball, known for 1970s and 1980s children's programmes such as Think of a Number and Johnny Ball Reveals All. In 2012, Johnny followed his daughter onto Strictly Come Dancing but was eliminated in the opening round after an injury to his partner Aliona Vilani, who was replaced by Iveta Lukošiūtė.
According to Finance Monthly, Zoe Ball's net worth is estimated at around £4m to £8m in 2026, partly thanks to her BBC income, listed in the 2024/25 pay disclosures as £515,000 to £519,999, making her the broadcaster's second-highest paid star behind Gary Lineker. Celebrity MasterChef airs on BBC One and BBC iPlayer.
