Zoe Ball leaving BBC Radio 2's Breakfast Show as replacement announced

Zoe Ball has announced her departure from the BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show, with Scott Mills set to replace her. She broke the news live on air this morning (Tuesday, November 19), informing listeners that she will be stepping down as presenter of the weekday Radio 2 Breakfast Show in December.

This announcement comes after her extended absence from the show over the summer following the death of her mother earlier this year. During her time away, fellow radio hosts Scott Mills and Gabby Roslin stepped in to cover for her.

Her successor from December has been confirmed as Scott Mills, moving on from the weekday afternoon programme (2-4pm). On air, Zoe expressed that she felt it was time to "start a new chapter" after six years of early starts.

However, she reassured listeners that she would continue to work with Radio 2 in some capacity after her departure. 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.", reports the Mirror.

"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 Ball became the first female host of the Radio 1 Breakfast Show back in 1998 and continued until 2000. Additionally, Zoe co-presented the BBC's popular Saturday morning show Live and Kicking with Jamie Theakston for three years from 1996.

Reflecting on her career, Helen Thomas, head of Radio 2, expressed gratitude for Zoe's tenure since January 2019: "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."

Zoe's TV work includes hosting Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two and presenting ITV's reality competition Mamma Mia! I Have A Dream.