TV legend Johnny Ball has revealed that his daughter Zoe Ball is thriving after her departure from the BBC Radio 2 breakfast show. At 54, Zoe stepped down from her role at the end of last year, having taken the reins in 2019 following Chris Evans’ exit. She described it as a “privilege” to share her mornings with listeners when she announced her departure last November. At the time, Zoe expressed: “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.”

However, not long after her final breakfast show on December 20, it was disclosed that Zoe would be making a comeback to the station in May with a new weekly Saturday show from 1pm to 3pm. Johnny recently shared with Saga Magazine: “Zoe’s taken to broadcasting as well as I did in fact, she’s done better than me. She’s earned considerably more money from it.”, reports the Manchester Evening News. He continued, “Her mum died last year and she’s had various other problems, but she’s chuffed to have packed in the Radio 2 breakfast show, as she’s realised every day has 24 hours now.

“Her days used to start at 4am and by the time it got to midday she was knackered. She visited me recently and said: ‘I’m in such a good place’.”

In November, Zoe also disclosed that she was dealing with a temporomandibular joint disorder, which impacts jaw movement, as per NHS information.

She has revealed that she often wakes up with “awful headaches” due to a health condition that causes pain in the jaw joint and muscles around it.

Earlier this year, she had to share the heartbreaking news of her mother Julia Peckham’s passing, only weeks after informing the public of her cancer diagnosis, leaving her family “bereft”.

Just one month prior, Zoe had opened up about Julia’s cancer diagnosis, stating that she would be stepping back from her Radio 2 duties to look after her mother.

Posting a tribute to Julia on X, previously known as Twitter, Zoe penned: “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.”

Former Play School host Johnny has been seen on More4’s The Baby Boomers’ Guide To Growing Old, and Channel 5’s The Terry And Gaby Show. He was the first celebrity voted off Strictly Come Dancing in 2012, which followed Zoe’s own successful stint as a finalist in 2005.

For the full interview, see Saga Magazine or visit saga.co.uk/magazine.