Zoe Ball is presenting the final edition of the BBC Radio 2 breakfast show after six years in the host’s seat.
54 years old announced his departure in November, saying that after “six incredible years” it was “time for me to leave the early mornings and focus on the family”.
Opening the program on Friday, Ball performed a few adapted lines from One Day More from the musical Les Miserables.
“Another day, another destiny, one final show from me, ZB – just kidding I don’t sing, let’s get some Daft Punk,” he said.
He then played One More Time by the French electronic duo, after which he read a message from a man who said he was going home early for Christmas so he could hear their last show.
Doctor Who star David Tennant was among the stars to pay tribute in a series of pre-recorded messages.
“You have been amazing for the last six years, the country will miss you,” the actor said. “[You’re] The perfect person to have breakfast with. Thank you for letting me come on your show multiple times and annoy you.”
Speaking on Pose for Thought, the Reverend Kate Botley told Ball: “It’s time for you to leave this particular party, and it’s going to take a bit of adjusting for everyone.
“But we know you, you’ll continue to light up and light up the room elsewhere… Thank you for keeping this special party going, especially on days when you didn’t feel like dancing.”
Ball will be replaced by Scott Mills, who will move from his afternoon spot in January.
last month, Revealing the ball that she had undergone treatment for a jaw condition called TMJ disorder, which she said gave her a “terrible headache” when she woke up.
Ball became the station’s first full-time female breakfast presenter when she took over from Chris Evans in 2019.
She took it. A six-week break from the show in the summer, after a previous hiatus in the spring His mother’s death.
Announcing her departure last month, she said she would remain “on the Radio 2 staff”, promising more details in the New Year about what that would entail.
He promised that his last show would be “just in time for Christmas with lots of fun and shenanigans”.
‘Change’
On his show earlier this week, Ball fought back tears when Robbie Williams surprised him with a heartfelt message.
“I just want to say thank you to the world of entertainment you’ve always been, BBC Radio 2, to all those who have gone before you and those who will come after you,” Williams said.
“But especially for you, the transformative thing you do and the kindness you show is important, and has been important and will continue to be important to people’s lives, so congratulations.”
The teary-eyed DJ replied: “Robbie, I love you.”
Ball also became the first female host of a Radio 1 breakfast show in 1998, after co-presenting the Saturday morning children’s TV program Live and King.
The Balls Radio 2 program is the most listened to breakfast show in the UK.
But according to Roger’s industry figures, its audience fell from 6.28 million to less than nine million this summer.
She was listed as the BBC’s highest-paid on-air presenter for the 2023/24 period – with a salary of £950,000 and £954,999 was in between – and second overall behind outgoing Match of the Day host Gary Lineker.