BBC Radio 2 star Zoe Ball has candidly shared her intense desire to become a grandmother, confessing she would have more children herself if she were not 'too old'. The 55-year-old presenter made the heartfelt admission during a conversation on her podcast.
A Longing for Babies and Grandchildren
Speaking with fellow broadcaster Jo Whiley on the latest episode of their Dig It podcast, the pair discussed their favourite scents. Both agreed that the smell of a newborn baby's head was top of their list. This prompted Ball to voice her own yearning.
"Oh, I know. God you know what? I think if we weren't too old, both of us would have more kids, wouldn't we?" she said. The presenter then lamented the long wait she faces for grandchildren. "Oh gosh, I'm going to have to have such a long wait for grandchildren. Can I borrow someone's baby? Can I borrow someone's baby please? I miss it," she exclaimed.
Family Life with Ex-Husband Norman Cook
Zoe Ball is already a mother to two children from her marriage to DJ Norman Cook, widely known as Fatboy Slim. Her son, Woody Cook, is now 25 years old, and her daughter, Nelly, is 16. Despite her children being a central part of her life, Ball's comments reveal a deep nostalgia for the baby stage.
Her eldest, Woody, is forging his own path in the music industry, following in his parents' footsteps. He has addressed the so-called 'nepo baby' label head-on, insisting he has worked hard to earn his place. "I definitely felt that way [pressure] at the beginning, but my parents have been really good at putting me out on my own and letting me do it myself," he told a magazine earlier this year.
Woody credits his parents' love and work ethic for his success, rather than their fame. "They are the most generous, loving, kind, hard-working people on earth, and that's what they've given me. I feel like I owe it all to that," he explained.
A Year of Personal Challenges
Zoe Ball's wish for a grandchild comes after an exceptionally difficult period in her personal life. Her mother, Julia Peckham, passed away in April 2024 following a battle with pancreatic cancer.
The loss had a profound impact on Ball, who subsequently stepped down from her BBC Radio 2 Saturday afternoon show to focus on her family. She recently described the last year as "tough" and admitted to suffering an emotional breakdown.
"I couldn't work. I was on the floor in the kitchen. I couldn't, I couldn't move," she recalled on her podcast. "I had a proper emotional breakdown... it was brutal." She praised her doctor for providing immediate support during that crisis.
Announcing her mother's death on social media, Ball wrote a touching tribute, thanking her for teaching the family "how to love unconditionally" and that "laughter is the greatest of gifts".
While she has left her regular weekend slot, Ball confirmed she is not disappearing from Radio 2 completely, with festive specials and new projects planned for the future.
