Zoe Ball has shared a heartfelt update about her family dynamics, revealing that her teenage daughter Nelly has chosen to spend more time living with her ex-husband, Norman Cook, known as DJ Fatboy Slim. The BBC Radio 2 presenter, 55, opened up on the latest episode of the Jo Whiley and Zoe’s Dig It podcast about the bittersweet shift in her household.
A Quieter Home
Ball contrasted her own quieter home with co-host Jo Whiley's bustling household. She explained: "Mine's so quiet, it's like ugh! It's less and less because Nel is based more at her dad's now because I think she's got to that point of, 'Ah can I just be in one place?'" The change has been eased by the fact that Norman lives nearby, allowing Nelly to move between homes without the stress of long-distance travel.
"It's great because it's only around the corner and I can nip round at any time, which is great, and she can come here if she gets upset about anything, 'Like mum, I need you' but it's less and less," Ball added.
Family Adjustments
The couple, who divorced in 2016, share two children: Woody, 25, and Nelly, 16. Woody moved to Bristol last year, while his parents remain in Brighton. The family has faced recent heartache, including the loss of both Zoe and Norman's mothers in 2024. Reflecting on this, Woody told the Daily Express in March 2025: "Last year a lot of stuff happened as a family. The family is a little bit smaller than it was. So it's given us time to spend more time together and reevaluate."
Emotional Milestones
Norman, 62, has also shared emotional moments, particularly watching Woody follow in his musical footsteps. Speaking on Heart Radio, he recalled crying when Woody played at Ibiza's iconic Café Mambo for the first time. "My son grew up in that booth... There came a moment where my son played in Mambo, and I'm not ashamed to say I cried when my son finally played," he said.
Ball, who recently revealed she was rejected as the new host of Strictly Come Dancing, continues to navigate these family changes with grace, appreciating the close-knit support system despite the quieter home.
