Zoe Ball has spoken candidly about the grief she has endured following the deaths of three people close to her. The 55-year-old BBC Radio 2 presenter lost her mother Julia Peckham in 2024, her stepdad Rick to motor neurone disease (MND), and her former partner Billy Yates to suicide in 2017.
On the latest episode of her Dig It podcast with Jo Whiley, Ball reflected on the heartbreak of hearing from others who have experienced similar losses. She said: 'It breaks my heart to know someone else will go through that.' She noted that people had reached out after learning about her mother's pancreatic cancer, her stepdad's MND, and Billy's death.
Ball offered reassurance to those grieving, advising that talking to others further along in their journey can provide comfort. 'You'll find people who have gone through exactly what you're going through,' she said, adding that 'in time... you will find happiness again and you will find joy again.'
The presenter stepped down from the BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show in 2024 following her mother's death. She has raised awareness of MND since 2012, after her stepdad died from the condition, which has no cure. Ball also highlighted the importance of staying connected with Billy Yates' family, saying it brought her comfort.
