Zoe Ball has disclosed that she has been suffering from a painful jaw condition, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder, which causes her 'awful' headaches most days. The 54-year-old presenter announced her departure from the BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show earlier this month to focus on family.
In an Instagram post on Wednesday, Ball shared photos of herself before and after a lymphatic drainage massage, explaining that TMJ leads to tension and jaw clenching. She wrote: 'I have TMJ and wake most days with awful headaches from tension & jaw clenching.' The condition, which affects the joint connecting the lower jaw to the skull, is often worsened by stress.
Ball, who earned between £950,000 and £954,999 in 2023/24, making her the BBC's second-highest-paid on-air female presenter, will host her final breakfast show on December 20. Scott Mills will take over the programme in early January. Ball had previously taken a six-week absence over the summer, with Mills stepping in.
In her departure statement, Ball said: 'After six incredible years on the Radio 2 Breakfast Show, it's time for me to step away from the very early mornings and focus on family.' She has two children with ex-husband Norman Cook, known as Fatboy Slim: Woody, 23, and Nelly, 14.
