HEARTBREAKINGZoe Ball QUITS BBC live on air in SH0CK Announcement as REPLACEMENT revealed

Zoe Ball quits BBC Radio 2 job (Image: GETTY)

Zoe Ball has announced she is leaving her role as presenter of her BBC Radio 2 show. Speaking on the programme on Saturday, December 13 the host said she would be replaced by broadcaster Emma Willis.

Ball told her listeners: “I have loved being betwixt my dear friends Romesh (Ranganathan) and Rylan (Clark), and you know, I love you all to bits, but I’m not disappearing completely. Obviously, it’ll be Christmas Crooners and I’m doing an eras show in the new year, more on that later.

“But I am thrilled to tell you that you will be in the safest of hands, because there is a super woman who is no stranger to you all, but this does mean that she will officially become a member of the Radio 2 family.”

“You’ll have loved her on The Voice, The Circle, Big Brother, Cooking With The Stars, Love Is Blind, and delivering babies, she’s a gorgeous lass so welcome to the BBC Radio 2 family and Saturday afternoons, Emma Willis.”

Zoe’s final show will broadcast from 1-3pm on Saturday, December 20. Emma will subsequently launch a new live Saturday lunchtime programme in January to fill the weekend afternoon slot.

She shared her excitement in a statement after the news was made public, saying: “I’m a huge fan of Radio 2, so I’m absolutely chuffed to be joining the family – and it’s a real honour to follow in the huge footsteps Zoe leaves behind, who’s someone I admire and adore.

“I’m very much looking forward to spending my Saturday lunchtimes with the Radio 2 audience and I’ll happily be the filling to a Romesh and Rylan sandwich!”

Emma is no stranger to Radio 2.  Since 2019, she has frequently covered for Sara Cox on her 4-7pmn show on weekdays. She has also covered for Claudia Winkleman and Romesh Ranganathan in the 10am – 1pm slot on Saturdays, and appeared as a guest on programmes such as Sounds of the 90s with Fearne Cotton.

Emma Willis is taking over Zoe Ball’s Saturday afternoon Radio 2 slot in the new year (Image: Rankin)

The BBC has promised the new show will be “jam packed with chats with special guests and listeners, all accompanied by some of the best music in the world”.

Head of Radio 2 Helen Thomas, said: “Emma is one of the UK’s most popular broadcasters, so I’m thrilled that she’s joining the all-star Radio 2 family of presenters. I’m certain that our loyal listeners will welcome her with open arms.”

Zoe only began presenting the Saturday afternoon show in May this year. Opening her first episode she said: “Hello it’s me, oh it’s lovely to be back on a Saturday. This is where it all began for me, back in the day when I used to sweep up and make the teas. I used to do early mornings. And then I used to do the slot where Rylan [Clarke] is [at 3pm].”

Prior to that role she spent five years as host of the Radio 2 breakfast show.