BBC Radio 2 star Zoe Ball opened up about her breakdown following her mother's death.

According to The Sun: Zoe Ball struggled to hold back tears as she revealed she experienced an 'emotional breakdown' during a difficult period in her life last year.

The BBC Radio 2 host candidly shared how she was left immobile on her kitchen floor, grieving her mother's death.

Zoe, 54, shared her feelings about the tough times as she returned to work a month after her mother's death.

In April last year, Zoe reported the tragic loss of her 'dear mum'.

At the time, she admitted that the family was going through tough times after the tragedy related to her mother Julia's battle with pancreatic cancer.

Emotional Breakdown

In her podcast with fellow BBC Radio 2 presenter Jo Whiley, Zoe spoke about the heavy impact of the loss on her life.

She said:

“I couldn’t work. I was lying on the kitchen floor. I couldn’t, I couldn’t move.”

She also revealed that she had a genuine emotional breakdown:

“It was, yeah, brutal.”

Zoe emphasized that her doctor was simply wonderful, bringing her coffee and bagels with kind words:

“So, we need to get you some help,”

She noted that the grieving process continues:

“There are a lot of tears and pain that still need to be released.”

Recovery After Loss

In May, Zoe bravely returned to the channel following her heavy loss.

But after that, she was 'pulled off air' again. Last autumn, Zoe 'disappeared' from the morning program, raising concern among her fans.

The absence caused much discussion, especially after the BBC released a statement about the presenter's future.

In November, Zoe announced her departure from the morning show. Her last show took place on December 20, filled with plenty of fun and antics.

She then introduced her replacement, former Radio 1 host Scott Mills. Her fans were delighted when she returned to the station in May with a two-hour Saturday show aptly titled 'The Best Songs and Chats on Saturday'.

Radio 2 bosses, Helen Thomas, previously highlighted:

“Zoe is one of the UK’s favourite presenters, so I’m thrilled to announce that she has a new place on Radio 2 on Saturday afternoons.”

Ongoing Changes

Zoe also shared that she left her morning program to spend more time with her daughter Nelly, though she admitted that she always struggles to find time for family.

Zoe Ball's Career

Zoe was born in Blackpool and is the daughter of children's presenter Johnny Ball and his wife Julia.

She made her television debut at a young age, being in the studio audience of the children's show 'Saturday Superstore' when her father was a guest.

The star began her broadcasting career by hosting a preschool program 'Playdays'.

After several behind-the-scenes roles, she found her place on 'Top of the Pops', alternating with presenters like Jane Middlemiss and Jo Whiley.

In 1996, she was invited to host the weekly morning show on BBC One 'Live & Kicking', leading to an appearance on 'The Big Breakfast' on Channel 4.

However, she maintained an active presence on radio, co-hosting 'BBC Radio 1 Breakfast' with Kevin Greening in October 1997.

Zoe later became the sole presenter of the show, marking a significant step for the corporation as she became the first female DJ in this position.

The presenter decided to leave the station in March 2000, to start a family life, and was replaced by Sarah Cox.

As a well-known figure on television in the noughties, she hosted numerous high-profile shows for ITV, including the Brit Awards in 2002, 'Extinct' in 2006, and 'Soapstar Superstar' and 'Grease Is The Word' in 2007.

From the mid-2002, she returned to radio when she joined Xfm (later known as Radio X), where she hosted a weekday show until December 2003. In 2004, she substituted for Ricky Gervais while he filmed the second season of 'The Office'.

In October 2005, she participated in the third season of 'Strictly Come Dancing', where she was paired with Ian Waite, impressing viewers with her choreography and finishing in third place.

In 2011, she returned to the franchise as the host of the spin-off show 'It Takes Two'.

She also substituted for Claudia Winkleman on the main show in 2014 when the star of 'Traitors' took a leave of absence due to serious burns on her daughter.

After 10 years of hosting the show, Zoe announced her departure from BBC Two in May 2021.

Zoe's journey on BBC Radio 2 began in 2006, when she hosted special documentary features. Over time, she substituted for stars like Dermot O'Leary, Ken Bruce, and Chris Evans.

After several changes, she returned on a permanent basis, taking the Saturday afternoon slot from 3 PM to 6 PM.

In October 2018, when Chris Evans moved to Virgin Radio, he personally announced that Zoe would take his popular slot. She began hosting the breakfast show on January 14, 2019.

At that time, a source reported to MailOnline that there was a mystery surrounding her absence, noting:

“No one knows what happened, but everyone loves Zoe.”

Tragic Loss

Zoe announced her mother's death on her X page, posting an emotional tribute.

It read:

“Rest in peace, my dear Mum. Thank you for teaching us to love unconditionally, always showing courage and empathy. And that even on the darkest days, laughter is the biggest gift. We are without you, but we will hold on to each other tightly.”

Her son Woody also shared words:

“Today I say goodbye to Grandma Jay, thank you for being a wonderful woman. The only person who always sent me a Valentine.”

The death occurred just days after Zoe announced that her mum had been transferred to hospice care due to a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.

All Changes

In November, it became known that Zoe was leaving her morning program.

Her last show took place on Friday, December 20, with 'plenty of fun and antics'.

She introduced her replacement as former Radio 1 DJ Scott Mills.

Zoe's fans were delighted when she returned to the station in May.

Her two-hour Saturday show is advertised on the BBC website as 'the best songs and chats on Saturday'.

Radio 2 head, Helen Thomas, previously stated:

“Zoe is one of the most loved presenters in Britain, so I’m happy to announce that she has a new spot on Radio 2 on Saturday afternoons and will host various special programs throughout the year.”

Zoe expressed that she left the morning program to spend more time with her daughter Nelly, but remarked that it's always challenging.