Zoe Ball thanks her listeners as she bids farewell to Radio 2 during her final show after making high spirited arrival to BBC studio

Zoe Ball thanked her listeners as she bid farewell to Radio 2 on her final show on Saturday.

The 55-year-old DJ was photographed beaming with pride as he arrived enthusiastically at the BBC studios ahead of his final day.

He surprised fans last weekend by announcing live on air that he would be leaving the weekly show after just seven months.

Zoe, who will be replaced by Emma Willis, revealed Saturday’s lunchtime show will be her last but added that she will not be ‘completely disappearing’ and is ready to return to host specials for the station.

Concluding his performance, he said: ‘It’s time for me to say thank you so much for listening on Saturday afternoons.

‘Don’t forget to check out the gorgeous Emma Willis in the new year. To all of you for listening, Merry Christmas to you and yours, I love you.’

The 55-year-old DJ was photographed beaming with pride as he arrived enthusiastically at the BBC studios ahead of his final day.

Arriving to record her latest show, Zoe wore a brown tweed jacket and dark denim folded jeans.

She paired the look with a black jumper and sunglasses and was seen sipping a smoothie from Joe And The Juice.

Zoe arrived at the studio carrying a stack of packed Waitrose bags as she took selfies with fans and signed autographs.

Last week, she announced her departure from the lunchtime show, with Emma set to take over.

Zoe, who revealed Emma’s identity to the audience during the live broadcast, said: ‘I loved being among my dear friends. [and fellow presenters] romesh [Ranganathan] And Rylan, you know I love you so much, but I’m not going to disappear completely.

‘Of course, there will be Christmas Carolers and I’ll be doing an Eras show in the New Year, more on that later. ‘I’m thrilled to say you’ll be in the safest of hands because there’s a superwoman who’s no stranger to all of you, but this means she’ll officially become a member of the Radio 2 family.’

Before adding: ‘I’m so happy to have the gorgeous Emma taking the reins, she’s pure sunshine and will bring all the joy (and tunes!) to your Saturdays!’

Meanwhile, Emma said: ‘I’m a huge fan of Radio 2 so I’m absolutely delighted to be joining the family – and it’s a real honor to follow in the huge footsteps left behind by Zoe, who I admire and adore.’

She paired the look with a black jumper and sunglasses and was seen sipping a smoothie from Joe And The Juice.

Zoe announced she was quitting the lunchtime show last week and it was announced that Emma would be taking over.

Zoe, who revealed Emma’s identity to the audience during the live broadcast, said: ‘I loved being among my dear friends. [and fellow presenters] romesh [Ranganathan] and Rylan, and you know, I love you so much, but I’m not going to disappear completely.

Zoe arrives at the studio carrying a string of packed Waitrose bags as she takes selfies with fans

He was also seen signing autographs for fans as he entered the building to record the show.

Zoe had a big smile on her face as she left the studio after her performance.

He carried the gifts given to him by his colleagues

Concluding her performance, Zoe said: ‘It’s time for me to say thank you so much for listening on Saturday afternoons. Don’t forget to check out the gorgeous Emma Willis in the new year’

Zoe concluded: ‘Merry Christmas to all of you for listening, to you and yours, I love you.’

Zoe opened up about her dramatic exit on Tuesday, revealing to the Daily Mail that she was “just stepping back” – amid speculation she was lined up to take over presenting Strictly

He added: ‘I’m looking forward to spending my Saturday lunch with the Radio 2 audience and will happily be the filling for a Romesh and Rylan sandwich!’

The BBC later took to Instagram to confirm the news and air Zoe’s first special for the station.

They said: ‘Zoe will continue to host specials on the station and her first new project will be a new series of the award-winning Eras podcast for Radio 2 and BBC Sounds, focusing on the life and legendary career of Phil Collins.’

Zoe spoke about her dramatic exit on Tuesday, revealing to the Daily Mail that she was ‘just stepping back’ from the show – amid speculation she is lined up to take over presenting Strictly Come Dancing.

Speaking from his home in Hove, East Sussex, the presenter said he did not want to comment further on his decision.

Zoe left Radio 2’s flagship Breakfast Show in November last year after six years to ‘focus on her family’.

It’s easy to see why he wants to spend more time at home after overseeing a beautiful transformation of the seaside property he bought for £2 million in March last year.

His beautiful peach-and-white stucco house, with five bedrooms and three bathrooms, was divided into several apartments, like many other properties on the street.

But after almost a year of renovations, it has now been transformed into a single, striking home with bright, quirky decorations to replace its former stark appearance.

Zoe posted a series of photos of the transformation on Instagram in April with the caption: ‘Life lately… I’ve been busy trimming the feathers of the nest and garden. The house needed some character, color and warmth, the white and gray original rooms were before Catherine @arior_design worked her wonders.’

The star also thanked the contractors working on the property, which Zoe proudly tagged with the hashtags ‘#sussexbusinesses’ and ‘#sussextrades’, all of which are locally based.

Zoe announced live on air last weekend that she is leaving BBC Radio 2’s Saturday afternoon show after just seven months (image 2024)

The DJ, who returned to the station in May after leaving flagship Breakfast Show last year, will be replaced by Emma Willis (Emma pictured).

The move to Hove came as a ‘fresh start’ and a source told the Daily Mail at the time: ‘It’s clear Zoe is tired of life in the country and wants to move somewhere a little livelier.

‘He’s really into making his home exactly the way he wants it and is happily ordering furniture and buying bits and pieces to make it perfect.’

It also deliberately brought her closer to her ex-husband and father of her children, Norman Cook, 62, known by his DJ name Fatboy Slim, with whom she remains a firm friend.

The couple separated in 2016 after 18 years of marriage, and their divorce was finalized in 2020, saying they had ‘reached the end of the rainbow’ after ‘many exciting adventures’.

Their relationship did not go smoothly; They briefly separated in 2003 when Zoe had an affair with Norman’s DJ friend Dan Peppe, and he was also photographed sharing a drunken kiss with Tay Tay Starhz, then 22, from British pop boy band Franklin Lake, months before their divorce.

But they always remained close as co-parents and friends; Norman even called Zoe his ‘soulmate’ in an interview promoting his autobiography earlier this year.