Zoe Ball has returned to her BBC Radio 2 show following the death of her mum in April, just 12 weeks after she was diagnosed with cancer.
The radio DJ had announced her mother Julia Peckham’s pancreatic cancer diagnosis in March, subsequently taking time off work to care for her.
Her family gathered together to say their final goodbye at her funeral on Wednesday, which Ball called the ‘perfect day’.
Signing on again this morning just after 6:30am, the 53-year-old brought her usual bubbly energy while also thanking presenter Gaby Roslin for covering her breakfast show slot in her absence.
‘Good morning gang! How are you all, you lovely sorts?’ she began as she spoke to listeners while kicking off her show.
‘First text in this morning, Lesley from Eastbourne said, “Morning Zoe, so good to have you back”.’
‘You’re saying that now Lesley, give me ten minutes [and] you might change your mind!’ she quipped.
Zoe then thanked her Early Breakfast Show colleague Owain Wyn Evans, adding: ‘Thank you so much to Owain – loved a bit of Tusk on the air drum anthem this morning. A boost in my bones that I needed, very much so.’
‘Thanks so much to Gabby for being here for you guys for the last few weeks – and for being here for me,’ she also commented.
‘I’m so grateful to you all for your amazing messages about my dear mum.’
On Thursday night she had paid emotional tribute to Julia alongside posting a collection of photos together from across the years.
‘Yesterday we said goodbye to our dear Mama, Granny J. It was the perfect day and she would have loved it,’ Zoe shared.
‘Forever in our hearts Mama, thank you for your magic & love. Missing you so much but holding tight to each other.’
The broadcaster continued: ‘Thank you to everyone who sent kind messages, cards & flowers. Big love to the many of you who have shared with us about your own loss and heartbreak, to those battling with cancer or looking after loved ones affected by cancer.
‘We wish you all the strength and love and of course the humour you need to keep going,’ she added, admitting that ‘some days it’s so hard to be brave’.
After revealing that her mother had been moved to hospice care just a week before her death, Zoe later announced the death of her ‘dear Mama’ in the early hours of April 24.
She added: ‘Thank you for teaching us how to love unconditionally, to always show courage and empathy, and how, even in the darkest of days, laughter is the greatest of gifts.
‘We are bereft without you but will hold so tight to each other. Your grace & your smile that lit up every room you were in, will light the stars to guide us.’
She had previously said that her mother’s cancer was ‘heartbreakingly quite advanced’ and the family were focusing on making memories together.
Macmillan cancer support
If you or someone you care about has been diagnosed with cancer, Macmillan can offer support and information.
You can contact their helpline on 0808 808 00 00 (7 days a week from 8am to 8pm), use their webchat service, or visit their site for more information.
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