Where is Zoe Ball today and why isn't she on BBC Radio 2?

Where is Zoe Ball today and why isn't she on BBC Radio 2?

Zoe Ball is absent from BBC Radio 2 today and it hasn't gone unnoticed by fans who have all been asking after the popular broadcaster.

Having first shot to fame on the '90s children's show Live and Kicking, Zoe has become a household name when it comes to working for the BBC and she landed the breakfast show on BBC Radio 2 in January 2019 taking over from Chris Evans when he left to join Virgin Radio.

Where is Zoe Ball today and why isn't she on the Radio 2 breakfast show?

Zoe Ball isn't on her BBC Radio 2 breakfast show today (Monday, January 30th) as she told fans she was too ill to come to work at Wogan House by tweeting, "So I’ve got covid…But good news is ya man @vernonkay is looking after y’all,” she added with a Face with Medical Mask emoji.

Both friends and fans have send their well wishes.

Louise Redknapp tweeted, "Hope you’re ok lovely", 

Rylan Clark-Neal put, "Nooooooo."

And a fan wrote, "Me too! Hope you're clear soon. Does the BBC have a come back if negative on days 5 and 6 policy. I'm a mental health nurse and that's mine."

Zoe was previously forced to self-isolate after testing positive for Covid-19. Zoe was supposed to be rehearsing ahead of hosting BBC's Red Nose Day in March last year but she tested positive for Covid that morning after doing a lateral flow test and this forced her to pull out of her presenting duties and self-isolate.

She also previously took some time off last year to mark the fifth anniversary of the death of her boyfriend Billy Yates. She uploaded a snap of her and some of his closes friends away on a break at Darwen Moor and Darwen Tower as she watched the sunset over the Moor last night.

Zoe posted, "5 years B Boy, so grateful to spend today with some of his special peeps #mateswithyates sunset over the moors."

Billy died in 2017 after taking his own life following a long battle with depression.

Zoe's recent health issue comes a day after she planned to organise her vegetable plot seeds for the year ahead. 

How long is Zoe off Radio 2 for and when will she be back?

It is not known how long Zoe will be off Radio 2 for or when she will be back after testing positive for Covid. But Vernon Kay is covering for her today and tomorrow (Tuesday January 31st). Zoe may be back once she tests negative to the virus to host her show but how long this will take is unknown, until then she is expected to have a replacement. 

Zoe was off last year after testing positive for Covid and she previously took time off September 2022 when she was ill and took a week off from her breakfast show in the last week of May. During both times Gary Davies also filled in as her holiday replacement. Vernon Kay covered for Zoe until she returned covid free but it's not yet clear whether he will be drafted in for the whole time this time round as he has recently been covering ABB Formula E in Saudi Arabia at the weekend.

Is Zoe Ball in a relationship?

Zoe Ball is in a relationship with former construction firm boss Michael Reed. They were first spotted together in 2017 when photos obtained by the Daily Mail showed the pair walking arm-in-arm as they enjoyed an evening out in Soho.

Michael posted a picture of the two of them on Instagram to celebrate Zoe's 50th saying, 'Happy Special Birthday wishes to this amazing one, 50 today. “HOT AT 50” you have filled my life with fun and laughter, Thank you. Have a wonderful day gorgeous girl. Big loves...'

The two got together back in December 2017 a year after a tragic event with Zoe's previously partner Billy Yates.

The star opened up on losing her partner last year and revealed rehab saved her from addiction as she quit booze.

Speaking about his death, she said, "Billy was my partner, we’d been friends for years and we got together. He suffered with depression for a huge chunk of his life. And it’s so hard to sit and watch someone you love and care for struggle with mental health. Losing him was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to deal with in my life."

Zoe Ball was previously married to Norman Cook, also known as Fatboy Slim. They were married for 18 years and split in 2016. The couple has two children together - a son Woody who is 20 and a daughter Nelly who is 11. The pair are still on good terms and have said before that they remain good friends despite the split.

Why is Zoe Ball leaving It Takes Two?

Presenter Zoe Ball announced she is leaving Strictly Come Dancing's spin-off programme It Takes Two to take on new challenges. She said, "Dance lovers, after 10 joyous years I am waltzing away from It Takes Two," and added that it was "time for some new cha cha challenges" and thanked "the whole Strictly clan I will miss you all immensely."

For the past two years, Zoe had juggled her BBC Radio 2 show with the spin-off Strictly show but decided last week to step down from It Takes Two, which she had gradually reduced presenting over the years with Rylan replacing her on the days she couldn't commit to.

Zoe first started working on BBC Radio 2 back in June 2009 when she presented the Saturday morning breakfast show. By January 2012, she announced she was stepping down from the weekend breakfast show but would continue to provide cover for other presenters on the network for occasions.

In March 2017 Zoe Ball rejoined the station on a permanent basis to host a new Saturday mid-afternoon show. And in 2019, Zoe Ball takes over as presenter of The Radio 2 Breakfast Show, and Rylan Clark-Neal took over her Saturday afternoon show.

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