Zoe Ball has spoken about the death of her boyfriend, cameraman Billy Yates, who was found dead at his home last May after living with mental health issues for years. The BBC presenter is preparing for a Sport Relief cycling challenge to raise awareness of mental health, a cause she says is 'very close to my heart'.
Ball, who hosts Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two, admitted she is a novice cyclist and has already had some mishaps during training, including an altercation with a kerb and two slow-motion falls. She has received tips from Davina McCall, who completed her own Sport Relief challenge in 2014.
The challenge will also involve filming a documentary about mental health, during which Ball will visit projects supporting people with conditions such as self-harm, anxiety, depression, bereavement and bullying. She said she was left with 'lots of questions' after Yates' death and hopes the challenge will help people find the right support.
'One in four people is living with mental illness. That's a lot of people struggling,' Ball told Chris Evans on his Radio 2 Breakfast Show. She added that mental health resources are under huge pressure and many people are not getting the support they need in time.
Details of the route, including distance and locations, have not yet been revealed, but Ball said it is 'a long way' for a novice cyclist. Sport Relief is held every two years; the 2016 event saw Eddie Izzard run 27 marathons in 27 days and Greg James complete five triathlons in five days.
