BBC Radio 2 presenter Zoe Ball has revealed that Scott Mills will take over her breakfast show as she steps down after six years “to focus on family”.
Announcing her departure on air on Tuesday, she told listeners: “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 listeners and it truly has been such a privilege to share the mornings with you.”
The 53-year-old took over the Radio 2 morning programme in 2019 from Chris Evans and became 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.
In an official statement, she 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. It’s been a privilege. I think the world of you listeners and I’m grateful to my bosses here for their support, especially this year.
Ball said her last show will be on December 20: “Just in time for Christmas with plenty of fun and shenanigans. While I’m stepping away from the Breakfast Show, I’m not disappearing entirely – I’ll still be a part of the Radio 2 family, with more news in the New Year.
“I’m excited to embrace my next chapter, including being a mum in the mornings, and I can’t wait to tune in on the school run!”
Ball later announced that Mills, currently hosting the mid-afternoon show, would take over her role. Although his start has yet to be confirmed, it’s believed to be early January.
Over the summer, she was notably absent for nearly two months, during which Mills filled in. Ball returned in September, sparking speculation about her future at the station.
After Ball reflected on Mills stepping in during her absence, he shared a heartfelt message, wishing her the chance to "just take all the pressure off."
“So, I just want to say thank you, really simply but loudly, thank you Zoe Ball not just for being my mate but being a mate to all of us and I think the absolute world of you.,” he said. “I always have, like I said you were there from day one looking after me.
“I want you to be happy, and we will miss you so much but I do want you to concentrate on having a life and being a mum in the morning like you said and just take all the pressure off for a bit. You are the very best of what you do and you are my lovely friend.”
During the broadcast, the pair also announced several new schedule changes with Trevor Nelson stepping into Mills’ afternoon spot, DJ Spoony taking over Nelson’s slot while Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s Kitchen Disco, an original BBC Sounds commission for Radio 2, will be extended from one to two hours, seeing Sophie bring her non-stop party to Friday nights from 9-11pm.
Following Ball’s announcement, Helen Thomas, head of Radio 2, said: “Zoe has woken up the nation on Radio 2 with incredible warmth, wit and so much joy since January 2019, and I’d like to thank her for approaching each show with as much vim and vigour as if it were her first. I’m thrilled that she’ll remain an important part of the Radio 2 family.”
While Mills said in a statement about his new role: “Zoe and I have been such good friends now for over 25 years and have spent much of that time as part of the same radio family here at Radio 2 and also on Radio 1. She’s done an incredible job on this show over the past six years, and I am beyond excited to be handed the baton.
“It feels ever since recording my first shows as a kid for an audience of one, my mum, all roads since have led to this amazing opportunity. It really is a lifelong dream come true to follow in the footsteps of Sir Terry [Wogan], Chris and Zoe to be the new presenter of the Radio 2 Breakfast Show.”
She was the BBC’s highest-paid on-air female presenter in 2023/24 with a salary between £950,000 and £954,999, ranking her second on the list of top-earning talent behind Gary Lineker, according to the corporation’s annual report published in July.
Ball has presented the BBC spin-off show Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two, and ITV’s reality competition show Mamma Mia! I Have A Dream.
