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As Zoe Ball revealed her mother Julia has been diagnosed with cancer, fans lamented the fresh tragedy for the beloved Radio 2 presenter who has had more than her fair share of heartbreak.

Taking to social media on Wednesday, Ms Ball, 53, said she would be taking time away from the station to focus on her family, who are currently going through ‘tough times’ – but added her mother is being extremely ‘brave’.

The latest blow comes almost seven years after her partner Billy Yates took his own life in May 2017, and the recent breakdown of her five-and-a-half year relationship with Michael Reed.

Mr Yates’ death came after the breakdown of Ms Ball’s 18-year marriage to DJ Fatboy Slim, real name Normal Cook. 

But despite her mother’s diagnosis, Ms Ball is remaining positive and told fans she is ‘in awe’ of the nurses and doctors in charge of her care.

Taking to social media on Wednesday, Ms Ball, 53, said she would be taking time away from Radio 2 to focus on her family

Taking to social media on Wednesday, Ms Ball, 53, said she would be taking time away from Radio 2 to focus on her family

Zoe wrote: 'I'm trying to be at work on breakfast as often as I can but occasionally need to be home with my Mama' (pictured with her mother Julia in 2010)

Zoe wrote: ‘I’m trying to be at work on breakfast as often as I can but occasionally need to be home with my Mama’ (pictured with her mother Julia in 2010)

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'

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’

Posting a picture of Julia surrounded by family, as well as a second of her receiving chemotherapy in hospital, Ms Ball 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.’

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.

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

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

Zoe Ball and her DJ husband Norman Cook, aka Fatboy Slim, announced in 2016 that they had 'come to the end of our rainbow' after 18 years of marriage

Zoe Ball and her DJ husband Norman Cook, aka Fatboy Slim, announced in 2016 that they had ‘come to the end of our rainbow’ after 18 years of marriage

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

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

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.

He told the Changes podcast: ‘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 Ms Ball 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. 

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

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

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

Zoe split from her long term partner Michael Reed last year after the couple's relationship broke down over 'silly things'

Zoe split from her long term partner Michael Reed last year after the couple’s relationship broke down over ‘silly things’

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

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

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, Ms Ball 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.

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.

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 Ms Ball 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. 

After her mother’s recent cancer diagnosis, Ms Ball has been 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.’ 

The radio presenter, who leads the Zoe Ball Breakfast Show from 6.30am to 9.30am, will miss some shows while she helps take care of her mother Julia, with Gaby Roslin filling in in her stead.

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

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This post first appeared on Daily mail

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