BBC disaster as Radio 2 loses half a million listeners after Zoe Ball quits and is replaced by Scott Mills
Back in December, former Radio 1 broadcaster
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BBC Radio 2's listening figures have plummeted since a presenter switch up
Credit: PA
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Scott Mills took over the Breakfast Show slot, yet listeners have dropped as the year goes on
Credit: Supplied
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Zoe Ball quit her Breakfast Show in December
Credit: PA
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Zoe has since returned to the BBC Radio 2 fold with The Zoe Ball Show, which airs every Saturday
Credit: PA
At the time
told how December 20 would be her
as she chose to "focus on family."
Listeners were quick to
she was set to up sticks, including a family tragedy.
She has since returned to the BBC Radio 2 fold with The Zoe Ball Show, which airs every Saturday.
Yet between April and June 2025 the station has lost half a million listeners compared to figures from three months earlier.
read more radio 2
Scott took over in January 2025.
Between January and March 2025, 13.11million listeners tuned into the station overall.
Yet during the most recent time period reviewed, this dropped to 12.62million.
Specifically for the Breakfast Show, figures marked 6.45million average weekly listeners from January to March.
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Yet between April and June, this has dropped to 6.22million.
Zoe Ball says it's 'lovely to be back' as she returns to BBC Radio 2 after stepping down from breakfast show
ALL CHANGE
Zoe's
Yet at the time, Zoe said she would remain on BBC Radio 2.
She said: 'After six incredible years on the Radio 2 Breakfast Show, it's time for me to step away from the very early mornings and focus on family."
Telling her listeners about her decision, she said: "I've decided it's time to step away from the early alarm call and start a new chapter.
Zoe Ball's career so far
Zoe was born in Blackpool and is daughter of the children's TV presenter Johnny Ball and his wife Julia.
She appeared on television at a young age as part of the studio audience of the Saturday morning children's show, Saturday Superstore when her father was a guest.
The star began her career in broadcasting as a presenter on the pre-school programme Playdays.
After various behind the scenes roles, she earned a spot as a regular host of Top of the Pops, when she alternated with the likes of
In 1996, she was chosen to front BBC One's saturday morning show Live & Kicking, which led to stints on The Big Breakfast on Channel 4.
But she maintained a huge presence on the radio as she was chosen to be the co-host of BBC Radio 1 Breakfast alongside Kevin Greening in October 1997.
Zoe was later appointed the sole host of the show in a groundbreaking move by the corporation as she was the first female DJ to hold the post.
The presenter chose to leave the station in March 2000 to start a family, where she was succeeded by
As a mainstream face in TV through the noughties, she hosted a range of huge programmes for ITV, including the Brit Awards in 2002, Extinct in 2006, and both
In mid-2002, she returned to radio when she joined Xfm (later known as
In October 2005, she appeared as a contestant on the third series of Strictly Come Dancing, where she was partnered with
In 2011, she returned to the franchise as she took over as the host of the magazine spin-off show,
She also filled in for Claudia Winkleman on the main show in 2014, when The Traitors star took leave after her daughter suffered serious burn injuries.
After 10 years fronting the show, Zoe
Zoe's journey in BBC Radio 2 started in 2006 when she fronted specialist documentaries. Over the years she sat in for names such as Dermot O'Leary,
After several shake-ups, she returned to the station on a permanent basis when she took over Dermot's Saturday afternoon slot between 3pm and 6pm.
In October 2018,
"We've shared a hell of a lot, the good times, the tough times, there's been a lot of laughter. And I am going to miss you cats."
She added she would also miss her colleagues, saying they were "like family to me".
The early morning presenter added: "But I won't miss the 4am alarm call, if I'm completely honest.
"You know I love you all to bits."
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Zoe quit the early morning slot to 'focus on family'
Credit: BBC
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She is now back on the channel with a Saturday show
Credit: PA
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Between April and June, Scott's Breakfast Show listening figures have dropped to 6.22million.
Credit: PA
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