Veteran presenter Johnny Ball has accused the BBC of ageism, claiming the broadcaster let his daughter Zoe leave Radio 2 because she was "over 50".
Zoe's long career at BBC radio, during which she became the first female presenter to host the Radio 1 and Radio 2 breakfast shows, ended in December 2025. The 55-year-old moved to Greatest Hits Radio in September.
Claims made at literary festival
While promoting his memoir An Autobiography: Stories That Have To Be Told at the Dorchester Literary Festival, her father Johnny, 88, claimed the BBC had a habit of phasing out its older presenters, Zoe included.
Discussing his decades presenting shows such as Play School, Think of a Number and Think Again on the BBC, Johnny said he had "loved every minute of it".
"But what happens when you are 50 at the BBC? Gone!" he told the audience. "Zoe was 54. Gone! You cannot believe it because we gave so much to the BBC."
Past ageism allegations
The BBC has faced allegations of ageism before. Last year the corporation settled with four BBC News presenters – Martine Croxall, Karin Giannone, Kasia Madera and Annita McVeigh – after they launched an employment tribunal alleging age and sex discrimination. In reaching a resolution, there was no acceptance of liability by the BBC, which had insisted its application process was "rigorous and fair".
The Standard has contacted the BBC for comment.
Zoe Ball's radio career
As a trailblazer for women in BBC radio, Ball was one of the BBC's best paid female stars before her exit. She began stepping back from Radio 2 in late 2024, leaving the station's breakfast show after six years to "focus on family".
Ball had hosted the morning programme since 2019, passing the baton to Scott Mills, who was sacked by the BBC after it emerged he was questioned by police over allegations of serious sexual offences involving a teenage boy under 16 in 2018. The case was dropped at the time due to lack of evidence, and while the BBC had previously been aware of the investigation, Mills was reportedly dismissed after the BBC was informed of the alleged victim's age.
Ball returned to host the Saturday afternoon slot on the station in May 2025, but departed before the year was out, with Strictly Come Dancing host Emma Willis taking over. She joined Greatest Hits Radio in September, hosting a weekday afternoon show after following former Radio 2 presenter Ken Bruce to the station.
