Zoe Ball confirms she will be back on BBC Radio 2 following mystery absence

The BBC broadcaster has been off air since August 9 and has not given an official reason as to why.

Zoe Ball has confirmed she will return to the airwaves tomorrow following a mystery absence.

The BBC broadcaster has been off air since August 9 and has not given an official reason as to why.

Zoe, who presents the Radio 2 breakfast show, lost her mother to cancer earlier this year. Her ex-husband Norman Cook, better known as Fatboy Slim, was recently seen comforting her in Brighton after reportedly selling her house, reports the Mirror.

Zoe is the BBC's highest paid female star. She took to social media to address her fans and thanked her co-workers for covering her shift during her absence. Posting on Twitter (X) this afternoon, she said: "back on breakfast @bbcradio2 tomorrow morning at 6:30. thanks to @scott_mills and @DJSpoony for putting in the mega shifts. @TinaDaheley @richie_anderson @mikewills_sport."

Replying to Zoe's tweet, one fan told the broadcaster: "Glad to have you back, we’ve missed you! Hope you’ve been ok xx". Another added: "Welcome back Zoe hope you’re well." A Radio 2 spokesperson said: "We are looking forward to welcoming Zoe back to the Radio 2 Breakfast Show tomorrow morning."

Zoe's social media update comes just days on from her son Woody Cook admitting he was "stepping up" and spending more time with her during her time off work. Woody, 23, who he shares with Fatboy Slim, opened up to MailOnline about his close relationship with his mother: "My mum and I like to keep our private lives to ourselves but I will say I have stepped up and spent a lot more time with her recently as she has always been there when I've had tough times. I'm glad to see her smiling."

Back in August, stepping in for Zoe, Scott Mills calmed his listeners as he announced: "If you set your alarm every morning to go off at 6:30am and normally Zoe comes on, please do not freak out. You have not overslept. If you've just put us on this morning, it's Scott Mills in for Zoe for the next few weeks. I'm sending you all my love Zo', as are the team."

Taking up the morning show baton in 2019 after Chris Evans, Zoe made waves as the successor of the much-coveted BBC Radio 2 breakfast slot, having switched to Virgin Radio. Notably, she carved her name in history as the first female host of the Radio 1 Breakfast Show back in 1998, maintaining the role until 2000.

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Her impressive portfolio blooms with gigs like co-presenting the iconic Saturday morning childrens show, Live and Kicking with Jamie Theakston for a solid three years beginning in 1996. Some other feathers in her cap include hosting ventures such as the Strictly Come Dancing companion programme: It Takes Two, and diving into the reality show world with ITV's Mamma Mia!

As one of the corporation's top earners, Zoe banks a cool £950,000 yearly, making her the BBCs highest-paid woman. Before taking her leave in August, Zoe revelled in an Ibiza getaway and immersed herself in Brighton Pride celebrations, only to return briefly to her work commitments for a mere three days before her departure.

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