Zoe Ball returns to her Radio 2 breakfast show after taking time off to care for her mother as she reveals ‘heartbreakingly her cancer has progressed and we are making memories’
Zoe Ball returned to her Radio 2 breakfast show on Monday morning after taking a week off work to care for her mother, who was recently diagnosed with cancer.
The presenter was back in the studio and opened her show with the words: ‘It’s me! I’ve missed you all, I’ve been taking care of my dear mother, but I’m back to bother you.”
She later gave an emotional update about her mother Julia, explaining: ‘Unfortunately, her cancer is already in an advanced stage, but we are making many wonderful memories and caring for her, she has wonderful people around her. ‘
‘I have a renewed admiration for all healthcare providers. I’ve realized that perhaps my calling lay below the stairs after all! I make delicious tea, I have done a lot of ironing and a lot of administration.
I have received truly heartbreaking messages from people who have recently lost loved ones to cancer. You are all in my heart.”
Zoe Ball returned to her Radio 2 breakfast show on Monday morning after taking a week off to care for her mother, who was recently diagnosed with cancer
On March 7, the presenter announced that she would be taking some time away from the show because her mother Julia Peckham has been diagnosed with cancer.
Zoe also thanked the hospital staff and in particular ‘a really nice couple of guys called Vic and Tom who took us to A&E in an ambulance last week.
‘My mother and I had never been in an ambulance before. It was fascinating stuff. There was a great team at A&E who all had such a great week.”
‘I’ve met some lovely people after being in and out of hospitals over the last few weeks. Many of you have told me their own stories about loved ones and their own stories about cancer, so thank you for sharing. Those messages meant so much, I read them to my mother.’
She later joked that she and her mother had been “watching a lot of Big Brother” all week.
The BBC star joked: ‘I’ve been watching a lot of a certain channel with my mum now, I know my mum’s habits now. GMB with Susanna Reid and then we’ve got a bit of Lorraine and then a bit of Cat and Ben on This Morning and then a lot of Ben on Tipping Point.’
On March 7, the presenter announced she was taking some time away from the show as her mother Julia Peckham was diagnosed with cancer, while Gaby Roslin stepped in for her shows last week.
In an emotional Instagram post, the radio DJ, 53, said she and her family were going through “tough times” amid the diagnosis, but praised her for being “brave”.
Zoe shared a photo of her mother, 74, surrounded by family members, along with another of her receiving chemotherapy.
In an emotional Instagram post, the radio DJ, 53, said she and her family were going through “tough times” amid the diagnosis, but praised her for being “brave”.
The radio DJ, 53, said she and her family were going through “tough times” amid her mother Julia Peckham’s diagnosis, but praised her for being “brave” (Zoe and Julia pictured in 2011).
Alongside the post she wrote: ‘Heartbreakingly, our beautiful Mama Julia has been diagnosed with cancer.
‘As many of you know from experience, these are extremely tough times. Mom is incredibly brave.
‘My brother Jamie and I are completely in awe of the brilliant doctors, nurses and support team caring for mum. Thank you.
‘Gratitude to our families and our extended family and friends at home and at work for their support at this time.
“I’m sending love to people reading this who are battling cancer or awaiting a diagnosis, and also to the people who are caring for their loved ones who are struggling.”
Zoe added that Gaby Roslin would replace her on her breakfast show while she spends time with her mother.
She wrote: ‘I try to be at work during breakfast as often as possible, but occasionally I have to be home with my mother. Thanks to Gaby for intervening. Lots of love ❤️’.