Zoe Ball announces death of her 'dear mama' Julia following short battle with pancreatic cancer

Zoe Ball has told fans she is 'bereft' following the death of her 'dear mama' Julia. 

The BBC Radio 2 star announced in early March that her mother had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and was being 'incredibly brave'.

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

Just before 5am on Wednesday, the much-loved broadcaster shared the news of her mother's passing on Instagram. In a tribute, she said: 'Sleep tight dear Mama.

'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.

Zoe Ball pictured with her mother Julia back in 2011

Zoe Ball announced the death of her 'dear mama' Julia (pictured) in a post on Instagram in the early hours of Wednesday morning 

In the tribute posted to Instagram (pictured), Zoe Ball told fans she is 'bereft' 

It continued: '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.'

After announcing her mother's illness last month, Gaby Roslin 'occasionally' stepped in to replace her on The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show so the pair could spend time together.

Zoe shared the heartbreaking news last week that Julia was being transferred into hospice care, telling listeners that things were 'pretty tough at the moment for the family.'

She said: 'Things are really tough for my mum at the moment, just sending out loads of love. Love you Mum.'

Taking to social media in the early hours of this morning, Zoe Ball has shared the news of her mother's passing

The presenter, 53, said she and her family were going through 'tough times' amid her mother's (pictured) diagnosis but praised her for being 'brave'

Woody also referenced his grandmother’s late husband Rick Peckham who died in 2013, as he added: 'I know you’re with Rick now, give him a hug from me.'

The broadcaster's son Woody Cook, who she shares with ex-husband Norman Cook better known as British DJ Fatboy Slim, also shared a tribute on Instagram.

'Today I say goodbye to Granny J, thank you for being a wonderful woman,' the 23-year-old said, sharing a younger picture with his grandmother.

Woody, who appeared on Netflix reality series The Circle in 2019, also referenced his grandmother's late husband Rick Peckham.

He said: 'The only person who always sent me a valentines card. I know you're with Rick now, give him a hug from me.

'I know he said once when you were panicking in a helicopter over the Jungle 'If you get lost, follow the river!' You'll find him at the end.'

Zoe revealed her mother's pancreatic cancer diagnosis on March 6, as she told fans on social media she would be taking time away from her BBC show to focus on her family, who were going through 'tough times' - but added her mother was being extremely 'brave'.

READ MORE: Zoe Ball emotionally reveals her mother Julia is now in a hospice as she says things are 'really tough' following her cancer diagnosis 

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Despite her mother's diagnosis, Zoe remained positive as she told fans at the time she is 'in awe' of the nurses and doctors in charge of her care. 

Posting a picture of Julia surrounded by family last month, as well as a second of her receiving chemotherapy in hospital, she wrote: 'Heartbreakingly our beautiful Mama Julia has been diagnosed with Cancer.

'As many of you know from experience, these are extremely tough times. Mum is being incredibly brave.

'My brother Jamie & I are completely in awe of the brilliant Doctors, Nurses & support teams looking after Mum. Thank you.

'Gratitude to our families & our extended family & friends at home & at work for their support at this time.

'Sending out love to people reading this who are battling cancer, or awaiting diagnosis & also to the folk looking after their dear ones who are poorly.' 

Zoe and Julia Ball pictured at the premier after party for Sex and the City 2 back in 2010

Fatboy Slim previously told how Zoe Ball would 'check him' as he rose to fame to ensure he treated people with respect 

Taking to social media last month, Zoe shared a photo of her mother surrounded by family members

Picture shows Julia holding her daughter Zoe when she was little

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

Mr Ball remarried his second wife, Dianne Cheryl, in 1976, with the pair remaining together today.

As Zoe's own career took off, she and her husband Fatboy Slim supported one another on their rise to fame, with Slim later describing how she kept him down to earth by 'checking him' for his behaviour. 

READ MORE: Zoe Ball's BBC Radio 2 replacement is revealed after presenter announces she's taking time away from show following devastating family news 

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He told the Changes podcast at the time: 'While you've got licence to break rules, you've always got a lot of people who'll let you get away with murder.

'Zoe was really good for me for that, because she knew the fame game and we would sort of check each other.

'If I wasn't respectful to people, she'd go: 'Oi, come on, that's not how we behave! Go back and thank them for that'.'

But sadly their marriage came to an end in 2016, with the couple announcing they had 'come to the end of their rainbow'.

Although Zoe soon found love again in partner Billy Yates, their relationship was also not set to last.

After a long battle with depression, Mr Yates, 40, killed himself in May 2017 at his home in Putney, London.

The Radio 2 presenter previously told how she felt 'really grateful' he had said goodbye to her the last time she saw him.

Fighting back tears as she spoke about their final moments together, she said: 'He got on his bike and he cycled off and he turned round and he 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'll find some help and it will all be okay.''

'And I wish I'd told him that.'

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

Zoe Ball pictured with former partner Billy Yates, who killed himself in May 2017

Zoe Ball wore a T-shirt bearing Billy Yates' name as she returned to work at Radio 2 following his death

She has consistently marked his death each year and returned to work at Radio 2 following his death wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with his name.

READ MORE: Zoe Ball reveals she is taking time away from BBC Radio 2 show after devastating family news: 'These are extremely tough times' 

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

But while friends said he was a 'true gent' at first, their relationship broke down after more than five years in May 2023 after Mr Reed allegedly became 'a bit demanding'.

The couple had reportedly been arguing about very minor aspects of their life, such as Zoe spending time on her phone talking to friends.

The presenter soon asked Mr Reed to move out of her home, although the two are said to remain on good terms.  

In a 2021 interview, Zoe marked the anniversary of her stepfather Rick's death, sharing that he passed away in 2012 after battling motor neurone disease.

Zoe's parents Julia and Johnny Ball, a former TV presenter, split up in 1972 after just three years of marriage.

Johnny remarried his second wife, Dianne Cheryl, in 1976, with the pair remaining together today, while Julia remarried Rick.

Speaking on her BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show back in 2021, the star discussed the campaigning of former rugby star Doddie Weir, who was raising funds to find a cure for the disease. 

She said: 'Hopefully one day we will find a cure. It's a real special day in my family today.

'We lost our stepdad Rick to Motor Neurone Disease on this day, quite a few years back now. We think about him every day, so obviously this is something pretty close to my heart.' 

In previous years, Zoe opened up on her struggles with alcohol and wild partying, having become the poster girl for ladette culture.

The mother-of-two said it took her several attempts to tackle her alcohol problem that accompanied her career from children's television presenter to the first female host of Radio 1's Breakfast Show.

In 2021, Zoe marked the anniversary of her stepfather Rick's death, sharing that he passed away in 2012 after battling motor neurone disease (Rick is pictured marrying Zoe's mother)

In previous years, Zoe has detailed her struggles with alcohol and wild partying, having become the poster girl for ladette culture

She said it took her several attempts to tackle her alcohol problem. Picture shows Zoe taking a drink at a bar opening in 1998

Explaining how she finally dealt with her problem drinking, Zoe says: 'I was lucky enough to go to rehab actually and through meeting other people who had addictions as well'

She said previously: 'You'll find that you'll deal with it a little bit but then you slip back into old ways, It took me a couple of attempts to sort that out.'

Explaining how she finally dealt with her problem drinking, Zoe said: 'I was lucky enough to go to rehab actually and through meeting other people who had addictions as well.'

Her reputation as a party girl increased after her 1999 marriage to superstar DJ Fatboy Slim, when she often found herself among other female stars known for their booze-fuelled antics.

'It's weird, because you do this job and you are talking and are gregarious and all these things but I am actually quite shy. But you could walk into the room if you'd had a drink.'

After her mother's cancer diagnosis, Zoe was inundated with messages of support from fans. 

She reassured them that while she would be in her usual Radio 2 slot as much as possible, she would 'occasionally need to be home with my Mama.' 

Gaby Roslin has filled in for the radio presenter on the Zoe Ball Breakfast Show from 6.30am to 9.30am while the BBC icon cared for her late mother.

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