Zoe Ball says presenting Radio 2 breakfast show has been ‘absolute privilege’

Zoe Ball has described presenting Radio 2’s breakfast present as “an absolute privilege”, as she signed off from her closing programme.

The 54-year-old introduced her departure in November, saying that after “six unbelievable years” it was “time to step away from the very early mornings and deal with household”.

In her closing feedback on Friday, Ball thanked everybody who had labored on the present since 2019, whom she mentioned she was going to overlook “mighty quantities”.

“It has been such a present to do that present… fairly cool to be the primary lass to host, and I will not be the final – bear in mind ladies, you are able to do something,” she mentioned.

“To the most important stars of our breakfast present, the listeners, younger and outdated, and people within the center, thanks for tuning in, whether or not as a lone listener, a household, a piece gang, in your morning jogs, canine walks, truck drives, practice commutes, or hiding in mattress, it has been an actual privilege to maintain you firm by means of your morning maneuvers.

“You are simply there, and I am simply right here, having a chat with a mate, it is such a particular, intimate relationship, that’s by no means misplaced on me.

“We have been by means of life’s little highs and lows, and I actually do hope we have managed to convey some sunshine and light-weight if you’ve most wanted it, a daft distraction from the tougher stuff.

“I have been stunned by your messages, texts, emails, playing cards and letters all through the years. Thanks for sharing your tales with me.”

Ball mentioned she can be again on air on Radio 2 within the spring, however particulars of her subsequent present haven’t but been introduced.

“Because the music says, you give just a little love, and all of it comes again to you. Properly, I’ve most undoubtedly felt that love from you listeners. I really feel very fortunate to have been right here. I ship buckets of affection to you and your pricey ones this Christmas.

“Maintain your self, beautiful peeps, my high cats,” she concluded, earlier than closing with Retaining The Dream Alive by Münchener Freiheit.

Kylie Minogue and David Tennant have been among the many stars who paid tribute to Ball all through the present.

In a pre-recorded message, singer Minogue mentioned: “Thanks for an unbelievable six years. The nation loves you and I really like you, and each time I have been in to see you, it has been a lot enjoyable.

“We have danced across the studio, you, me and your fabulous prod[ucing] squad, shout out to them… it has all occurred with you Zoe.”

Minogue concluded: “Zoe I want you all of the love success and pleasure and every thing you need transferring on… we love you.”

Ball’s on-air colleagues Mike Williams, Richie Anderson and Tina Daheley additionally paid tribute to her.

Different Radio 2 personalities together with Jeremy Vine, Dermot O’Leary, Sara Cox, Jo Whiley, Vernon Kay, Rylan Clark and Trevor Nelson additionally despatched nicely needs.

When she opened the programme on Friday, Ball delivered a number of tailored strains of One Day Extra from the musical Les Miserables.

“One other day, one other future, one closing present from me, ZB – solely joking I am not going to sing, let’s have some Daft Punk,” she mentioned.

She then performed the French digital duo’s One Extra Time, adopted by a message she learn out from a person who mentioned he was driving residence for Christmas early so he may hearken to her final present.

Physician Who star David Tennant was among the many different stars paying tribute in a sequence of voice messages.

“You have been so superb during the last six years, the nation goes to overlook you,” the actor mentioned. “[You’re] the most effective individual to have breakfast with. Thanks for letting me come on to your present a number of instances and annoy you.”

Talking on Pause for Thought, Reverend Kate Bottley instructed Ball: “It is time so that you can go away this explicit occasion, and it is going to take a little bit of adjusting for everybody.

“However we all know you, you will simply hold glowing and lighting up the room elsewhere… Thanks for preserving this explicit occasion going, significantly on these days if you did not really feel like dancing.”

In the course of the programme, Ball paid tribute herself to former Radio 2 presenter Steve Wright, who died in February.

“We miss you, darling man, however your magic is at all times with us, thanks a lot for being an incredible broadcaster and a pal to all of our broadcasters,” she mentioned.

Ball can be changed by Scott Mills, who will transfer from his afternoon slot in January.

Mills was among the many Radio 2 DJs who despatched messages in for Ball’s closing programme.

“You are our pal, a pal to all of us, and in the previous few years specifically, an arm around the shoulder once we actually wanted it,” he mentioned.

“And also you additionally make it appear very easy, so no strain!”

In addition to tributes, Ball’s closing programme featured kids calling in to talk to Santa Claus, who’s within the studio along with her.

Final month, Ball revealed that she’d had remedy for a jaw situation referred to as TMJ dysfunction, which she mentioned offers her “terrible complications” when she wakes up.

Ball grew to become the station’s first full-time feminine breakfast presenter when she took over from Chris Evans in 2019.

She took a six-week break from the present over the summer season, after a earlier break within the spring following the demise of her mom.

Saying her departure final month, she mentioned she would keep “within the Radio 2 crew”, promising additional particulars within the New 12 months about what that will contain.

She promised that her closing present would happen “simply in time for Christmas with loads of enjoyable and shenanigans”.

Earlier this week on her present, Ball held again tears as Robbie Williams shocked her with a heartfelt message.

“I simply need to say thanks on your providers to date to the leisure world, to BBC Radio 2, to all which have gone earlier than you and who will come after you,” Williams mentioned.

“However for you specifically, the transformative factor you do and the kindness you exude is vital, and has been vital and can be vital to individuals’s lives, so congrats to you.”

The teary-eyed DJ responded: “Robbie, I really like you to bits.”

You might also be involved in

Ball additionally grew to become the primary feminine host of the Radio 1 breakfast present in 1998, after having co-presented the Saturday morning kids’s TV programme Stay & Kicking.

Ball’s Radio 2 programme is probably the most listened to breakfast present within the UK.

However her viewers dipped from 9 million when she began to six.28 million this summer season, in accordance with trade figures from Rajar.

She was listed because the BBC’s highest-paid on-air feminine presenter for the 2023/24 interval – with a wage between £950,000 and £954,999 – and second general behind outgoing Match of the Day host Gary Lineker.