‘We are bereft without you’: Zoe Ball announces death of her ‘dear mama’ Julia following short battle with pancreatic cancer – days after BBC Radio 2 DJ told fans her mother had been moved into a hospice

Zoe Ball has told fans she is ‘bereaved’ following the death of her ‘dear mum’ Julia.

The BBC Radio 2 star revealed in early March that her mother had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and that she was ‘incredibly brave’.

Earlier this week, the 53-year-old told her BBC Radio 2 listeners that Julia had been transferred to a hospice, dedicating a Bon Jovi song to paramedics who helped her.

Just before 5 a.m. on Wednesday, the beloved broadcaster shared the news of her mother’s death on Instagram. In tribute, she said, “Sleep well dear mommy.

“Thank you for teaching us to love unconditionally, to always show courage and empathy. And how laughter, even in the darkest days, is the greatest gift.

It continued, “We are bereft without you, but we will hold each other so tight. Your grace and your smile that lit up every room you were in will light up the stars to guide us.”

After announcing her mother’s illness last month, Gaby Roslin stepped in “occasionally” to fill in for her on The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show so the couple could spend time together.

Last week Zoe shared the heartbreaking news that Julia was being transferred to a hospice, telling listeners that the cases’quite tough on the family at the moment.”

She said: ‘It’s really hard for my mum at the moment, I’m just sending lots of love. Love you, Mom.”

Zoë revealed her mother’s pancreatic cancer diagnosis on March 6 when she told fans on social media that she would take time to focus on her family, who were going through “difficult times,” but added that her mother was experiencing extremely “difficult times.” times’. courageous’.

Despite her mother’s diagnosis, Ms Ball remained positive as she told fans at the time that she is ‘in awe’ of the nurses and doctors responsible for her care.

Ms Ball posted a photo of Julia surrounded by family last month, as well as a photo of her receiving chemotherapy in hospital: ‘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.”

The family has been beset by hardship for decades, with Mrs Ball’s parents, Julia and Johnny Ball, a former TV presenter, splitting in 1972 after just three years of marriage.

Mr. Ball remarried his second wife, Dianne Cheryl, in 1976, and the couple remains together today.

As Zoe’s own career took off, she and her husband Fatboy Slim supported each other in their rise to fame, with Slim later describing how she kept him grounded by ‘checking’ his behavior.

He told the Changes podcast at the time: ‘Although you have the power to break the rules, you always have a lot of people letting you get away with murder.

“Zoe was really good for me before that because she knew the fame game and we kind of checked each other out.

“If I didn’t respect people, she’d say, ‘Oi, come on, we don’t behave like that! Go back and thank them for that.’

But sadly, their marriage came to an end in 2016, when the couple announced they had ‘reached the end of their rainbow’.

Although Mrs Ball soon found love again in partner Billy Yates, their relationship would not last either.

After a long battle with depression, 40-year-old Yates committed suicide at his home in Putney, London, in May 2017.

The Radio 2 presenter previously said she felt ‘really grateful’ that he had said goodbye to her the last time she saw him.

Fighting back tears as she spoke of their last moments together, she said, “He got on his bike and rode away, turned around and blew me a kiss goodbye, and that was the last time I saw him.”

She added, “It was just that moment and that feeling of ‘Oh my god, I love him so much, we’re going to find help and it’s all going to be okay.’

“And I wish I had told him that.”

A year after his death, Mrs Ball took part in a grueling Sport Relief challenge to cycle 350 miles in five days in his memory and raise awareness of mental health issues.

She has consistently marked his death every year and returned to work at Radio 2 after his death, wearing a T-shirt with his name on it.

Despite her loss, the presenter found the courage to love again when she started dating former construction worker Michael Reed.

But although friends initially said he was a ‘real gentleman’, their relationship ended in May 2023 after more than five years after Mr Reed allegedly became ‘a bit demanding’.

The couple had reportedly argued over very minor aspects of their lives, such as Mrs Ball spending time on the phone talking to friends.

The host soon asked Mr Reed to leave her home, although the two reportedly remain on good terms.

Following her mother’s recent cancer diagnosis, Ms Ball was inundated with messages of support from fans.

She assured them that while she would be at her usual Radio 2 spot as much as possible, she would ‘need to be at my mother’s house occasionally’.

The radio host, who fronts the Zoe Ball Breakfast Show from 6.30am to 9.30am, will miss some shows as she helps care for her mum Julia, with Gaby Roslin taking her place.

For confidential support, call the Samaritans on 116 123, visit samaritans.org or visit www.thecalmzone.net/get-support