HEARTBREAKING: Former BBC Breakfast Show presenter Zoe Ball makes HEARTBREAKING CONFESSION about boyfriend Billy Yates’ D3ATH

Former BBC Breakfast Show host Zoe Ball, 54, has opened up on the aftermath of her boyfriend Billy Yates’ d3ath in May 2017. Speaking to her Dig It Deep podcast co-host Jo Whiley on their show, she made a heartbreaking admission. She told listeners: “People bought roses for me when I lost Billy and Billy had tattoos up his arm of roses.”

The former BBC Radio 2 presenter, who also lost her mother last year to cancer, was discussing how gardening can help people through different struggles in life. The cameraman took his own life at the age of 40 after a long battle with depression. Zoe started dating Billy after the end of her marriage to Norman Cook, also known as DJ Fatboy Slim.

Just under three years after his d3ath in February 2020, during an appearance on Desert Island Discs, she revealed the extent of his issues. She told listeners: “He had lived with depression for a huge chunk of his life and it’s so hard to watch someone you love and care for struggle with mental health.

“Losing him was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to deal with in my life. I think something that’s really important to share is that there is hope. There is help available. There are ways.

“It’s so isolating to be trapped in your mind like that, where you doubt yourself, you doubt everything you’ve ever known, you doubt your family loves you, you doubt that your friends care.”

She added that it is important to focus on the good memories in the aftermath of such a loss. Describing Billy, she explained he “was so full of love and would help anyone in need” and insisted he should be “remembered for his life, not his d3ath.”

Although he p@ssed away eight years ago, he is never far from Zoe’s thoughts and in May this year she paid tribute to him on his anniversary  , uploading a heartwarming photo of her late boyfriend on a motorbike surrounded by the stunning countryside to Instagram.

She captioned the post: “8 years forever in our hearts Billface #mateswithyates,” alongside a rose, sparkling lights, and a heart emoji. The mum-of-two was flooded with messages of support as the heartbreaking post racked up over 10,000 likes.

Zoe’s daughter, Nelly, who she shares with Fatboy Slim, was among those paying tribute, commenting: “Miss him everyday x,” to which Zoe replied: “Love you squirrel.”