Zoe Ball, a former BBC Radio 2 and Strictly Come Dancing: It Takes Two presenter, struggled to control her emotions as she reflected on the agony of losing her life.
Zoe Ball has been left in tears after hearing a heartbreaking story perhaps a little too close to home. In the latest episode of her and Jo Whiley’s podcast Dig It, a listener shared the story of her mum’s death just a week after Christmas.
The woman, identified as Di, explained that her 90-year-old mother had requested that she spend last Christmas at home because she was too exhausted to travel and see loved ones.
The listener informed Jo and Zoe that the tiredness was all a sign that her body was starting to fail her.
She left her garden on New Year’s Eve, put her coat on, and went outside to feed the birds.
She said, “Her garden was her pride and joy, she loved everything that came into it, and it was the perfect Christmas and the perfect death.”
While Jo struggled with her emotions while Zoe, 55, was spotted reaching for tissues and wiping away tears while telling the story.
Zoe responded, “Oh Di, what a gorgeous message! ” with a shivering voice as she continued to sob. Everything you simply shared there… Your mother sounds amazing, I believe. “
The presenter then admitted that she had already discussed her own pending death with her family.
“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’.”
She continued, “What a beautiful story that she was out feeding the birds, that’s so lovely,” and continued. And Di, those memories are wonderful, don’t you think? “
Zoe continued, “Yes, I’m with you there, totally, I’m with you,” describing how she resonates with grief. We don’t miss our lost romantic partners, either.
“Thank goodness we have them in our lives and appreciate everything they do.” “
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 on the airwaves, the presenter often updated listeners about her mum’s battle with pancreatic cancer, including her move to a hospice shortly before she died.
She previously mentioned how grief had affected her on a podcast episode titled “I had to stop working, I was on the floor in the kitchen, I couldn’t move.”
Source: Mirror
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