Zoe Ball delighted fans as she resumed hosting duties on her BBC Radio 2 show last week following a six-week absence. The presenter had taken some time away from the airwaves for the second time, following the death of her mother, Julie Peckham, who died in April.
Through what has been an incredibly difficult time for Zoe, a source told new that the 53-year-old has found solace in her ex-husband Norman Cook, 61, also known as Fatboy Slim. The former couple split up in 2016 after almost two decades of marriage, but have maintained a strong friendship ever since - and it seems Norman has been a shoulder for Zoe to cry on.
"Zoe has really struggled these past few months as she copes with the loss of her mum and lots of changes in her life. And despite them splitting up, Norman is the one person she can still rely on. He has been her rock, as he always is," claimed the source.
image [https://cdn.magzter.com/1583506613/1727762298/articles/FD9kr5aBr1727766677194/2286661722.jpg]
In April, Zoe announced that her mum had died just 12 weeks after she was diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer. At the time, she described the family as "bereft".
She took some time away from work, while Gaby Roslin and Scott Mills covered her radio show. Despite briefly returning in August, Zoe took a further month and a half off in extended leave, with stand-in Scott sending his love to her on-air as he stepped in. While Zoe has undoubtedly been using her time off to grieve and get back to normal life, she has also reportedly sold her countryside home in Sussex, which is worth more than £2 million, and moved back to Brighton and Hove, where Norman lives.
She was recently spotted there enjoying a day out with Norman and some pals.
Explaining that the move is no mere coincidence, the source continued, "Zoe knows she can just be herself around Norman and he picks her up when she's down. And now, after everything, she's realised that she can't be far away from him, which is why she's moving back to Hove, so she can be closer to him. He always said that her moving to the country would eventually get a bit boring and lonely and that she needs people around her - and he's right. She can't wait to get back down the coast and start having fun again."
image [https://cdn.magzter.com/1583506613/1727762298/articles/FD9kr5aBr1727766677194/6176888617.jpg]
Zoe and Norman were one of the noughties' celebrity golden couples. Both known for their party-loving personalities, they seemed a perfect match. After getting together in the late 90s and marrying in 1999, the couple went on to have two children, son Woody, 23, and daughter Nelly, 14. However, in 2016 the pair decided to part ways while vowing to remain friends, which they have successfully done ever since.
Hailing his ex-wife for keeping him "grounded" during the height of his fame, Norman said last year, "Zoe was really good for me because she knew the fame game and we would sort of check each other.
If I wasn't respectful to people, she'd go, 'Oi, come on, that's not how we behave...
Through what has been an incredibly difficult time for Zoe, a source told new that the 53-year-old has found solace in her ex-husband Norman Cook, 61, also known as Fatboy Slim. The former couple split up in 2016 after almost two decades of marriage, but have maintained a strong friendship ever since - and it seems Norman has been a shoulder for Zoe to cry on.
"Zoe has really struggled these past few months as she copes with the loss of her mum and lots of changes in her life. And despite them splitting up, Norman is the one person she can still rely on. He has been her rock, as he always is," claimed the source.
image [https://cdn.magzter.com/1583506613/1727762298/articles/FD9kr5aBr1727766677194/2286661722.jpg]
In April, Zoe announced that her mum had died just 12 weeks after she was diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer. At the time, she described the family as "bereft".
She took some time away from work, while Gaby Roslin and Scott Mills covered her radio show. Despite briefly returning in August, Zoe took a further month and a half off in extended leave, with stand-in Scott sending his love to her on-air as he stepped in. While Zoe has undoubtedly been using her time off to grieve and get back to normal life, she has also reportedly sold her countryside home in Sussex, which is worth more than £2 million, and moved back to Brighton and Hove, where Norman lives.
She was recently spotted there enjoying a day out with Norman and some pals.
Explaining that the move is no mere coincidence, the source continued, "Zoe knows she can just be herself around Norman and he picks her up when she's down. And now, after everything, she's realised that she can't be far away from him, which is why she's moving back to Hove, so she can be closer to him. He always said that her moving to the country would eventually get a bit boring and lonely and that she needs people around her - and he's right. She can't wait to get back down the coast and start having fun again."
image [https://cdn.magzter.com/1583506613/1727762298/articles/FD9kr5aBr1727766677194/6176888617.jpg]
Zoe and Norman were one of the noughties' celebrity golden couples. Both known for their party-loving personalities, they seemed a perfect match. After getting together in the late 90s and marrying in 1999, the couple went on to have two children, son Woody, 23, and daughter Nelly, 14. However, in 2016 the pair decided to part ways while vowing to remain friends, which they have successfully done ever since.
Hailing his ex-wife for keeping him "grounded" during the height of his fame, Norman said last year, "Zoe was really good for me because she knew the fame game and we would sort of check each other.
If I wasn't respectful to people, she'd go, 'Oi, come on, that's not how we behave...
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New UK (Digital) - 1 Issue, October 07, 2024