Zoe Ball has made a deeply emotional confession about grief, as she reflected on the death of her former partner Billy Yates — a loss that continues to shape her life years on.
The BBC Radio 2 presenter was left fighting back tears during the latest episode of the Dig It podcast after hearing a heartbreaking call from a listener who had lost her son.
The caller, Helen, shared how her family chose not to hold a traditional sombre funeral for her son Myles, who died from cancer. Instead, they organised what she described as an “Ibiza-style” celebration of life, where friends performed DJ sets in tribute to him.
As clips from the event played, Zoe was visibly overcome with emotion.
“Helen, I’m so sorry for your loss — your beautiful, beautiful boy,” she said. “But what a way to celebrate him. There’s so much joy in that footage… it just makes me cry even more.”
Dabbing away tears, Zoe added softly: “Ah, how lovely.”
The moment struck especially close to home. Zoe knows the weight of grief all too well, having lost Billy — a cameraman — to suicide in 2017. She also suffered another devastating blow in 2024 with the death of her mother following a battle with cancer.
Reflecting on Billy’s passing, Zoe shared how staying close to his family and friends has been a source of comfort through the years.
“I think that’s such a lovely thing,” she said. “When you lose someone — especially when they’re young — staying close to the people who love them really matters.”
She continued: “Losing Billy, I’ve been so lucky to have all of his wonderful family and friends stay really close. Seeing his nieces and nephews doing brilliantly at life, his friends who still make me laugh — they carry his essence.”
Zoe explained that the relationships formed through shared loss often become lasting lifelines.
“Those connections you form through great loss stay with you,” she said. “They’re such a comfort.”
She also recalled a poignant memory involving the mother of her ex-husband Fatboy Slim (real name Norman Cook), describing how music played a powerful role at her funeral.
“Norm’s mum had that at her funeral,” Zoe shared. “You need a song that lets you cry — really cry. I think it’s good to have that moment, but then also to have laughter, dancing, light and shade. Both matter.”
As the emotional episode drew to a close, Zoe turned to her co-host and admitted simply:
“I’m a flipping wreck.”
Billy was Zoe’s first known relationship following the end of her marriage to Norman Cook in 2016. Last year, she marked eight years since Billy’s death with a heartfelt Instagram tribute, writing: “8 years forever in our hearts Billface #mateswithyates,” alongside a rose and heart emojis.
Zoe later went on to have a six-year relationship with model and construction worker Michael Reed, which ended in May 2023. She is now in a relationship with television production designer Mathieu Weekes — affectionately referred to as “The Lodger” on her podcast.
Through tears, memories and moments of shared pain, Zoe’s words offered a rare, raw glimpse into how grief never truly leaves — it simply changes shape.
