Zoe Ball bids farewell to Radio 2 as Emma Willis prepared to take over Saturday lunchtime slot

Zoe Ball bid farewell to BBC Radio 2 on Saturday, ending a seven‑month run as host of the Saturday lunchtime show. The presenter announced last weekend on air that she would be stepping away, with Emma Willis set to take over the slot in the New Year. Ball said she would not disappear entirely and would continue to front specials for the station, including a new Eras podcast series focusing on Phil Collins for Radio 2 and BBC Sounds.

During her final program, Ball thanked listeners and colleagues, saying, "It's time for me to say thank you so much for listening on Saturday afternoons. Don't forget to look after the gorgeous Emma Willis in the New Year. To all of you for listening, merry Christmas to you and yours, love you." The broadcaster described Willis as someone who would bring "joy (and tunes)" to Saturdays and noted she would be stepping back but not leaving Radio 2 entirely.

The BBC later confirmed Willis would join Radio 2 and highlighted Ball's ongoing role in specials and a new project lineup. Willis said she was "a huge fan of Radio 2" and felt honored to follow Ball, calling the move a milestone for her career and a chance to continue serving the audience with the station’s signature mix of music and chat.

Ball had publicly revealed Willis’s identity to listeners live on air, telling them she would host Christmas Crooners and a forthcoming Eras project in the New Year. The station also announced that Ball’s first new project would be a fresh series of the Eras podcast focusing on Phil Collins, alongside other specials for the network.

The development comes as Ball has been balancing her public duties with personal life changes. She previously quit Radio 2’s flagship Breakfast Show in November last year after six years to focus on family. In recent months, she relocated to Hove, East Sussex, in what insiders described as a bid for a fresh start. The property, bought for about £2 million, underwent extensive renovations to convert it into a single, colorful family home. Ball has long prioritized her home life and has remained on amicable terms with her ex-husband Norman Cook, better known as Fatboy Slim, with whom she shares two children.

In a post announcing Willis's arrival and Ball’s continuing specials, the BBC said the presenter would contribute to the station through new programming and podcast work, including the Phil Collins Eras project. The move signals a broader shift in Radio 2’s weekend line-up as the network leans into curated specials and crossover content tied to long‑running franchises.