Zoe Ball to leave BBC Radio 2 breakfast show with Scott Mills to replace

Zoe Ball Leaves Radio 2; Scott Mills Steps In

Zoe Ball: 'I think it’s time to say goodbye to early mornings'

Zoe Ball has revealed that she will be leaving her role as the host of Radio 2's Breakfast Show in December.

Ball expressed, "After six amazing years hosting the Radio 2 Breakfast Show, I've decided it's time to move on from the early mornings and prioritize my family."

She will continue to be based at the station, and she mentioned that additional details about her role will be shared in the upcoming year.

Ball later revealed that Scott Mills will take over her position, transitioning from his afternoon program on the station.

Ball announced that her final performance will take place on Friday, December 20th, just in time for the holiday season, promising an entertaining mix of fun and antics for her audience.

Scott Mills expressed his enthusiasm, saying, "I couldn't be more thrilled to take on this new role."

Sharing her choice with her audience, she stated, "I've made the decision to move away from waking up to an early alarm and embark on a new journey."

"We’ve experienced so much together, both the wonderful moments and the challenging ones, filled with plenty of laughter. I’m really going to miss you all."

She mentioned that she would really miss her coworkers, expressing that they felt "like family" to her.

The morning host commented, "To be honest, I won't miss waking up at 4 a.m."

"You all know how much I care about you."

Mills shared, "Zoe and I have been really great friends for more than 25 years. A lot of that time, we've been part of the same radio community at Radio 2 and previously at Radio 1."

"She has done an amazing job with this show for the last six years, and I couldn't be more thrilled to take over."

Ball mentioned that she will cherish her listeners and colleagues, but she won’t miss waking up early.

Ball had nothing but positive things to say about her successor: “Scott and I have known each other since our time at Radio 1, where he was on the early morning shift before I was. He’s been a dear friend for many years, and I couldn’t be happier that he’s the one stepping in to host the Breakfast Show.”

Breakfast has always been his aspiration. He isn't just an exceptional producer; he's among the finest in the radio industry. I'm really looking forward to listening while I drive the kids to school!

Starting in January, Trevor Nelson, who currently hosts in the evenings from Monday to Thursday, will take over as the presenter of the weekday afternoon show that runs from 2pm to 4pm, succeeding Mills.

Nelson mentioned, "I want to enjoy myself and infuse some soul into the new show."

In addition, DJ Spoony will be expanding his weekly program, The Good Grove, to include four additional shows from Monday to Thursday nights, airing from 9 to 11 PM. Moreover, Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s Kitchen Disco will now run for two hours instead of one, starting at 9 PM on Friday nights.

In 1997, Ball was the host of the BBC One children's program Live and Kicking, which aired on Saturday mornings.

Ball began her career at BBC Radio in October 1997, where she served as the co-host of the Radio 1 Breakfast Show alongside Kevin Greening. Between October 1998 and March 2000, Zoe took over the show by herself, making her the first woman to ever do so.

Helen Thomas, the director of Radio 2, commented: "Since January 2019, Zoe has brought a wonderful energy, charm, and joy to our listeners on Radio 2, waking up the entire nation."

"I want to express my gratitude to her for bringing the same energy and enthusiasm to every show as if it were her debut. I'm excited that she'll continue to be a valuable member of the Radio 2 family."

Recent data from the radio industry organization Rajar reveals that Ball's show is the most popular breakfast program in the UK, attracting 6.3 million listeners.

According to the latest statistics, BBC Radio 2 holds the title of the most popular radio station in the UK, attracting an audience of 13.3 million listeners each week.

At the 2024 Audio and Radio Industry Awards, commonly referred to as the Arias, Scott Mills took home the top prize for the best music entertainment program, while Balls secured third place in the category for the best music breakfast show.