Zoe Ball has swapped out the hustle and bustle of her showbiz career and is now spending her time 'working in a local cafe' and living a softer and more slow-paced life. Radio presenter Zoe, 54, stepped down from her BBC Radio 2 breakfast show in December to 'focus on her family' as she let go of her £950,000 salary. Now, her son Woody, 24, has revealed that his famous mum has been doing 'lots of puzzles' and has been getting back into gardening since quitting her job at the BBC.
Woody admitted it has been 'funny' watching his 'crazy party' parents Zoe and Norman Cook, aka Fatboy Slim, ditching their wild nights out on the town for a more wholesome lifestyle. "In the last five years, it's been funny watching my parents take up gardening both of them," he shared. Zoe's son then revealed that his parents are now working in their local cafe. Fatboy Slimowns the Big Beach Cafe in Hove and is often seen working in the eatery wearing a name badge reading: "Norm.".
"These crazy party people I grew up with are now gardening, making puzzles and working in the local café. It's very funny to see that transitional period, just as I'm kind of leaving the nest and now at the start of something big for me in music," he told MailOnline. Woody also addressed his mother's departure from BBC Radio 2, admitting that he's thrilled about her decision because he now gets to spend a lot more time with her. "It's lovely seeing my mum more, because obviously she's had quite a weird schedule for the last few years.".
Zoe announced that she would be departing BBC Radio 2 just months after her extended absence from the show during the summer following her mother's death earlier this year. During that time, fellow radio hosts Scott Mills and Gabby Roslin filled in with her, with Scott now confirmed as Zoe's permanent replacement. In a statement on air, Zoe said that she believed it was time to "start a new chapter" after six years of early starts. However, she confirmed that she would be still be working with Radio 2 in some capacity after her exit.
She said: “Ok you lovely bunch, I have some news. After six years of fun times alongside you all on the Breakfast Show, I've decided it's time to step away from the early alarm call and start a new chapter. You know I think the world of you all listeners, and it truly has been such a privilege to share the mornings with you, to go through life's little ups and downs, we got through the lockdown together, didn't we?.
"We’ve shared a hell of a lot, the good times, the tough times, there’s been a lot of laughter. And I am going to miss you cats. I'm going to miss my amazing Prod Squad who I adore. Already missing Mike, I'm going to miss Tina and Richie. They've all become like family to me, like you lot. But I won’t miss the 4am alarm call, if I'm completely honest. So my last Breakfast show will be with you on the 20th of December and then its high kicks all the way to Christmas, gang.
"I'm not going to be a stranger, I'm staying in the Radio 2 crew and family because it's an amazing family - as we saw last week with Paddy’s fantastic Children in Need challenge- and I’ll have more news on that in the New Year. I just want to say I’m so grateful to my incredible boss ladies, to Helen and Laura and Lorna and Fiona, they have always been so supportive of me especially in this job and particularly this year, so thank you ladies.
"Now of course it leaves us with a big question, who is going to wake you up in the mornings? Well the good news is you don't have to wait very long to find out. I am going to reveal the brand new host of the Radio 2 Breakfast Show on this show this morning . But for now, know I love you all to bits and this song from Supertramp seemed like a good one to play.”. Zoe was the first female host of the Radio 1 Breakfast Show in 1998, a post she held until 2000. She also co-hosted the BBC ’s Saturday morning children’s magazine Live & Kicking alongside Jamie Theakston for three years from 1996.
