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Zoe Ball has emotionally signed off from her remaining BBC Radio 2 Breakfast present after six years within the internet hosting chair.
The 54-year-old introduced her departure from the programme in November, saying that it was “time for me to step away from the very early mornings and concentrate on household”.
Delivering her sign-off message for the ultimate time, Ball informed listeners on Friday (20 December): “You’re simply there and I’m simply right here, having a chat with a mate. It’s such a particular and intimate relationship.”
She stated: “It’s been such a present to do the present, to observe within the footsteps of Terry [Wogan] and Steve [Wright] and others. It’s been a privilege to be the primary [woman] to current the present…bear in mind ladies, you are able to do something.”
“I’ve been shocked by your messages and playing cards over time. There’s been plenty of laughter, tears and dancing – after all, plenty of dancing.”
“I’ll see you within the Spring right here on Radio 2, popping as much as share new adventures. It’s been very particular, care for yourselves. Love you my peeps, my high cats,” she stated, earlier than hitting play on her remaining track, Münchener Freiheit’s 1988 hit “Retaining the Dream Alive”.
Earlier within the present, Ball admitted that she was so teary-eyed that she couldn’t see the buttons in entrance of her, and apologised upfront for any errors.
“Every thing’s going to go fallacious as a result of I can’t see the buttons by my giddy tears,” she stated.
Physician Who star David Tennant was among the many stars paying tribute in a sequence of pre-recorded messages aired on the programme.
“You’ve been so superb over the past six years, the nation goes to overlook you,” the actor stated. “[You’re] the most effective individual to have breakfast with. Thanks for letting me come on to your present a number of occasions and annoy you.”
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Singer Kylie Minogue stated: “Thanks for an unimaginable six years. The nation loves you and I really like you, and each time I’ve been in to see you, it’s been a lot enjoyable.
“We’ve danced across the studio, you, me and your fabulous prod[ucing] squad, shout out to them… it has all occurred with you Zoe.
The singer concluded: “Zoe I want you all of the love success and pleasure and every part you need transferring on… we love you.”
Throughout the programme, Ball additionally paid tribute to former Radio 2 presenter Steve Wright, who died in February.
“We miss you, darling man, however your magic is at all times with us, thanks a lot for being a tremendous broadcaster and a pal to all of our broadcasters,” she stated.
Throughout the programme, Ball reconnected with viewers who’ve supported her over time, equivalent to one girl who named her daughter after Ball when the presenter made historical past as Radio 2’s first feminine breakfast present host on the day she gave delivery six years in the past.
In one other second, BBC Radio’s largest names shared a bundle of heartfelt messages on the present, with Dermot O’Leary and Scott Mills each dedicating well-wishes to the presenter. “Proper that’s it, I’ve gone,” stated Ball, breaking down in tears.
Ball turned the station’s first full-time feminine breakfast presenter when she took over from Chris Evans in 2019, and in addition made historical past as the primary feminine presenter of BBC Radio 1’s Breakfast present, which she hosted for 2 years from 1998.
The presenter took a six-week break from the present over the summer season, after a earlier break within the spring following the loss of life of her mom, Julie Peckham, who had been recognized with superior pancreatic most cancers.
When Ball introduced her departure from the present final month, she stated she would keep “within the Radio 2 crew” and promised to share additional particulars about her involvement within the New Yr.
In response to the BBC, Ball’s Radio 2 programme is essentially the most listened to breakfast present within the UK. However, in response to trade figures from Rajar, her viewers dipped from 9 million when she began to six.28 million this summer season.
She was listed because the BBC’s highest-paid on-air feminine presenter for the 2023/24 interval, with a wage between £950,000 and £954,999, which put her in second place general behind outgoing Match of the Day host Gary Lineker.
Scott Mills will probably be taking on Ball’s slot on weekday mornings, transferring on from the weekday afternoon programme that he presents from 2pm to 4pm.
Mills stated of the information that he and Ball have been pals for 25 years and that he was “past excited to be handed the baton”.
“It feels ever since recording my first reveals as a child for an viewers of 1, my mum, all roads since have led to this superb alternative,” he stated. “It truly is a lifelong dream come true to observe within the footsteps of Sir Terry, Chris and Zoe to be the brand new presenter of The Radio 2 Breakfast Present.”
Ball stated Mills has been a “shut pal” for years, and that she was “past thrilled” it was him taking on.
