Zoe Ball drops three-word 'BBC Radio 2 exit statement' as star pays tribute

Robbie Williams shares message with Zoe Ball on Radio 2

Zoe Ball left fans in a frenzy as she teased listeners about her pland for the new year as her exit from the beloved Radio 2 breakfast show fast approaches.

On Tuesday (December 17), the 54-year-old broadcaster woke up the nation alongside Take That favourite Robbie Williams following the release of his new film Better Man.

The musician was quick to discuss all the quirky moments in the star-studded movie - including his role as a singing and dancing monkey. But it didn't take long before the 50-year-old hitmaker was singing her praises live on air.

He gushed: "Conrgatulations to you for your service to entertainment. I know that this is not the end completely for you." It was at this point she asked: "Or is it? I'm taking up gardening, I'm going to work in a garden centre."

Robbie added: "Well, I just want to say thank you for your services so far to the entertainment world, to BBC Radio 2, to have all that have gone before you and will come after you.

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Zoe Ball is set to leave BBC Radio 2 at the end of the week (Image: PA)

"But for you in particular, the transformative thing that you do and the kindness that you exude is important, and has been important, and will be important to people's lives, so congrats to you."

Zoe appeared to be choked up as she replied: "Robbie, I love you to bits, I feel like I've just been ordained. I love it." It didn't take long before her famous friends and loyal legion of fans flooded to the comments to gush over the musicians sweet message online.

Davina McCall penned: "This is so lovely and thoughtful of @robbiewilliams [two heart emojis]" as another gushed: "Loved listening to this earlier. Robbie speaks so eloquently, I could listen to him for hours! [blue heart emoji]."

A third echoed: "Awww that was so sweet, he's right though, your time and efforts should be celebrated and definitely huge congratulations. Time to say goodbye to the bloody early morning alarm clocks [heart emoji]."

It comes after it was revealed that the BBC had tried hard behind the scenes to convince the broadcaster to stay on the airwaves. Zoe revealed she would be departing the show this Christmas after six years to make way for new host Scott Mills, which reportedly came as little surprise to friends and some within the industry.

Robbie Williams thanked the broadcaster for her work on the BBC show (Image: Instagram) window.topArticlesScript="https://cdn.images.express.co.uk/js/dist/article-top-articles20241217.min.js" SUBSCRIBE Invalid email

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An industry insider sad the mother-of-two's role as the cheerful accompaniment to the nation's school runs and commutes was taking its toll.

They said: "Zoe loved being on air, but she was never going to be a Wogan who lived and breathed the breakfast show for 27 years. The 4am wake-up calls and missing Woody (son) and Nelly (daughter) in the mornings took their toll quite early on.

“She had been thinking about leaving for a while. The BBC had to work hard to persuade her to stay on in her last contract negotiation a couple of years ago.”

Zoe Ball drops three-word 'BBC Radio 2 exit statement' as star pays tribute

Zoe Ball drops three-word 'BBC Radio 2 exit statement' as star pays tribute

Zoe Ball drops three-word 'BBC Radio 2 exit statement' as star pays tribute

Zoe Ball drops three-word 'BBC Radio 2 exit statement' as star pays tribute

Zoe Ball drops three-word 'BBC Radio 2 exit statement' as star pays tribute