Zoe Ball has shared the emotional toll of losing her mother, Julia, last year, revealing that her grief led to a complete breakdown.
The 54-year-old broadcaster, who had been a mainstay of BBC Radio 2’s breakfast show, has spoken candidly about how the loss affected her both personally and professionally.
Emotional Breakdown Forces Zoe Off the Air
Following Julia’s passing in April 2024 after a battle with pancreatic cancer, Zoe was forced to step back from her morning radio duties.
Scott Mills took over her breakfast slot later that year, but Zoe has now opened up about the intense impact her mother’s death had on her mental health.
Speaking on her BBC podcast Dig It with Jo Whiley, Zoe recalled:
“I couldn’t work. I was on the floor in the kitchen.
I couldn’t move. I had a proper emotional breakdown… it was brutal.”
She described the support she received from her doctor, who visited her with coffee and bagels, encouraging her to seek professional help.
Grieving Through Milestones
Zoe admitted that even months later, events like her mother’s first birthday since passing were particularly difficult.
“It was the toughest, the toughest… a week of absolute weeping.
I still get quite emotional talking about Mum, even now,” she said.
She emphasized the importance of leaning on loved ones and allowing herself to cry through the pain.
Remembering Julia Ball
Before stepping away from her breakfast show, Zoe was one of the BBC’s highest-paid female presenters, earning £950,000. She paid tribute to her mother on social media:
“Sleep tight dear Mama. Thank you for teaching us how to love unconditionally, to always show courage and empathy, and how, even in the darkest of days, laughter is the greatest of gifts.
We are bereft without you but will hold so tight to each other.”
Reflecting on Early Career Pressures
Zoe has also spoken about her early days in television, recalling that saying no to uncomfortable requests from bosses wasn’t an option.
Speaking to The Times, she reflected:
“I remember going to a shoot and they’d be like, ‘Straddle a chair.’
There’d be racks of tiny clothes… it was quite uncomfortable, but you were conditioned to think, that’s just how it is.”
She noted how reading Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s memoir helped her process some of the pressures she and other women in media faced.
Understanding Pancreatic Cancer
Julia’s passing was due to pancreatic cancer, one of the deadliest forms of the disease.
Approximately 95% of those diagnosed do not survive.
It is the sixth most common cause of cancer death in the UK, with around 10,000 new cases each year, and affects about 55,000 people annually in the US.
Causes and Risk Factors
Pancreatic cancer arises from abnormal, uncontrolled growth of cells in the pancreas.
Most cases occur in people over 55, with age, smoking, diabetes, and genetics being key risk factors.
Why It’s So Deadly
Early-stage pancreatic cancer rarely shows symptoms, and by the time signs like jaundice or abdominal pain appear, the disease is often advanced and has spread to other organs.
Treatment Options
The primary treatment is surgical removal of the pancreas, but this is largely ineffective once the cancer has spread.
In later stages, palliative care is provided to ease patients’ pain.