Zoe Ball's son Woody Cook has disclosed that police are investigating a stalker who repeatedly impersonated him online and discussed intimate details of his sex life with strangers. The 25-year-old Celebrity Gogglebox star criticised the 'creepy' individual who has been catfishing unsuspecting victims by pretending to be him and engaging in shocking conversations about his private life.
Police Investigation Underway
Woody, whose father is music legend Fatboy Slim, revealed he reported the stalker to police this week, prompting a formal investigation into the perpetrator, who he claims has terrorised him and others more than 20 times. In a series of Instagram stories, Woody branded the stalker's behaviour 'creepy, immoral and illegal' and urged them to seek therapeutic help.
Catfishing Campaign Exposed
The disturbing campaign involved the catfish creating fake profiles using Woody's identity to contact multiple people online, engaging in deeply personal and intimate conversations while posing as him. Woody wrote, 'Just FYI Catfishing as someone and talking nonsense about their sex life to strangers is creepy, immoral and illegal.' He also shared a screenshot of a message from the impersonator, which read: 'Hey man, hope I'm ok to hyu on here. Just been looking at your prints again, super talented! Might have some artwork I'd like done for my festivals this year. Would you be interested? Woody x.' Woody captioned it: 'This is not me! Someone is pretending to be me. Please don't fall for it! Super weird. It's a stalker (And I will be making a police enquiry because he's done this to me and other people 20+ times and I'm done being polite).'
Legal Context and Campaign for Change
Under current UK law, catfishing itself remains legal, with no specific provisions against online impersonation in the Malicious Communications Act 1988 or the Communications Act 2003. However, associated actions can lead to charges under the Fraud Act 2006, Protection from Harassment Act 1997, and data protection laws. Campaigners are pushing for catfishing to become a specific criminal offence, with a petition launched in March 2023 calling for legal recognition of harm caused by false identities. A 2023 survey found that 22% of UK adults have experienced catfishing, and over a quarter of dating website users have been tricked by fake profiles.
Woody's Background and Advocacy
Woody has worked to step out of the shadow of his famous parents—radio queen Zoe, 55, and DJ icon Norman Cook, 62—and forge his own path. He came out as bisexual in 2019 and champions mental health awareness, LGBTQ+ rights, and environmental causes. He has a successful career as a DJ, performing at Glastonbury, and works as a presenter and public speaker. He runs his own record label and media company, Truth Tribe, while studying Film and Theatre at Bristol University. He also appeared on Celebrity Gogglebox with his mother, becoming fan favourites for their commentary and bond.
A spokesperson for Woody told the Daily Mail: 'We have been made aware that an individual has been contacting people online and claiming to be Woody. We have reported this to the police, and an investigation is underway. As such, we are unable to provide any further comment.'
