Zoe Ball, former presenter of BBC Radio 2 and Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two, found herself overcome with emotion as she reflected on the pain of grief

Zoe Ball couldn’t contain her emotions (Image: YOUTUBE/DIGITPODCAST)

Zoe Ball struggled to contain her emotions as she listened to a heartbreaking story that hit close to home. During the most recent instalment of her Dig It podcast with Jo Whiley, a listener recounted the death of her mother just seven days after Christmas.

The listener, named Di, revealed that her 90-year-old mother had expressed a wish to remain in her own home over the festive period, as exhaustion prevented her from visiting relatives.

“I think the tiredness was all a sign that her body had started to fail her,” the podcast fan informed Jo and Zoe.

“And on New Year’s Eve, she went out, she put her coat on, she went out to feed the birds and just slipped away in her garden.

Zoe Ball was seen wiping away tears (Image: YOUTUBE/DIGITPODCAST)

“Her garden was her pride and joy, she loved all the wildlife that entered it, so it really was, for her, the perfect Christmas and the perfect death,” she added.

As the story unfolded, 55-year-old Zoe was seen grabbing tissues and dabbing her eyes, while Jo similarly battled with her emotions.

With a trembling voice as tears continued to flow, Zoe responded: “Oh Di, what a gorgeous message. Everything you just shared there, your mum sounds like an amazing lady.”

The broadcaster subsequently acknowledged that discussions regarding her own death had taken place within her family circle.

Zoe Ball’s mum Julia Peckham died in April 2024 (Image: INSTAGRAM/ZOEBALL)

“I joke with my kids about having a comedy death,” the former Strictly Come Dancing star shared. “I’m like, ‘Can I have a comedy death?’ So it won’t be sad, like a piano falls on my head and everyone’s like, ‘That’s the way she wanted to go’.”

Still moved by Di’s story, she added: “What a beautiful story that she was out feeding the birds, that’s so lovely. And Di, those memories are wonderful aren’t they.”

Explaining how she relates to grief, Zoe continued: “Those memories of them and hearing you say how much you miss her five years later, yeah, I’m with you there, totally. We miss our lost loves don’t we.

“Thank goodness for having them in our lives and everything they bring into our lives.”

Zoe announced the sad death of her mum, Julia Peckham, in April 2024, which led to an extended break from her BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show.

While broadcasting, the presenter frequently updated listeners about her mum’s battle with pancreatic cancer, including her move to a hospice shortly before she died.

Previously discussing how the grief had impacted her, she said on an episode of the pair’s podcast: “I had to stop working, I was on the floor in the kitchen, I couldn’t move.

“I had a proper emotional break down, I haven’t talked about it very much but it was brutal.”