Zoe Ball's Radio Comeback
Zoe Ball set to host new weekday afternoon show on Greatest Hits Radio
Key Points
Zoe Ball's new weekday afternoon show, Zoe Ball in the Afternoon, will air 1pm–4pm on weekdays starting Monday 7 September 2026, featuring big guests, listener chats and a 'Something for the Weekend' segment every Friday.
Greatest Hits Radio is reshaping its weekend lineup: Kate Thornton will launch a new prime-time Saturday show, while Claire Sturgess will present the weekend Breakfast Show from 6am to 9am on Saturdays and Sundays; Kate will also continue with UK Pop 40 on Sundays.
The rollout included a Traitors-inspired recruitment trailer with Ken Bruce and Simon Mayo, featuring the caption 'One more from the old place! Please welcome our newest recruit' and a cloak reveal in the studio to announce Zoe’s arrival.
Bauer Media Audio UK's Gary Stein welcomed Zoe Ball to Greatest Hits Radio, praising her as one of the UK's most talented broadcasters with a strong ability to connect with audiences and highlighting the station's epic music and big personalities.
Zoe Ball is returning to weekday radio after more than a year away, joining Greatest Hits Radio for a new afternoon show starting Monday, September 7, 2026, Bauer Media confirmed. The show, called *Zoe Ball in the Afternoon*, will run 1pm to 4pm on weekdays, slotting her between Ken Bruce and Simon Mayo on the station's daytime schedule.
The announcement came with a high-profile promotional video inspired by the TV show *The Traitors*, featuring Bruce and Mayo welcoming Ball with a cloak reveal in the studio. It marks her first regular weekday programme since leaving BBC Radio 2's Breakfast Show in late 2024, The Independent reported.
A Reunion of BBC Stars Under One Commercial Roof
Ball's arrival completes a formidable daytime lineup at Greatest Hits Radio. Ken Bruce, who left BBC Radio 2 in 2023, now holds the 10am–1pm slot. Simon Mayo, who joined in 2021, takes 4pm–7pm. Ball fills the gap between them. Industry observers have called it a direct reunion of BBC Radio 2's 1990s and 2000s "dream team," now broadcasting on a commercial rival.
Gary Stein, Director of Audio at Bauer Media Audio UK, said Ball is "one of the UK's most talented and best-loved broadcasters" with "an extraordinary ability to connect with audiences." Ken Bruce was equally enthusiastic: "From today I will no longer be the new boy here," he said, welcoming Ball on-air.
Ball's Health Struggles Shaped Her Return on Her Own Terms
Ball's departure from the BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show was not straightforward. In April 2024, she stepped back after the death of her mother, Julia, from pancreatic cancer. By October 2025, she told her *Dig It* podcast that "crippling anxiety," panic attacks, and perimenopause symptoms had made the daily breakfast show "frightening" and unsustainable, Yahoo News reported.
The 1pm–4pm afternoon slot gives her 15 hours of airtime per week — a manageable schedule compared to the early-morning grind of a flagship breakfast show. Ball said the move felt like "the right time to begin a new chapter," adding that Greatest Hits Radio had "built something really brilliant — epic music, big personalities and a genuine connection with listeners."
The Strictly Snub That May Have Sped Up Her Decision
Reports emerged on June 6, 2026 that Ball had been passed over for a new presenting role on *Strictly Come Dancing*, with the job reportedly going to Emma Willis and Josh Widdicombe, according to Head Topics. Some outlets framed the GHR move as a direct response to that setback. Ball publicly said she was "chuffed" just to have been considered.
Ball had previously earned around £950,000 per year as one of the BBC's highest-paid stars, Yahoo News reported. Her Bauer Media contract terms have not been disclosed. At 55, she fits squarely into Greatest Hits Radio's target audience — listeners aged 40 to 60 who grew up watching her on *Live & Kicking* and heard her on Radio 1.
Weekend Schedule Reshuffled to Make Way for Ball
Ball's move into the weekday slot triggered changes across the wider schedule. Kate Thornton, who previously held the afternoon slot, will move to a new prime-time Saturday show. She will also continue hosting *UK Pop 40* on Sundays. Claire Sturgess takes over the weekend Breakfast Show, running 6am to 9am on both Saturdays and Sundays, according to The Independent.
Thornton described Ball as a "good friend" and an "incredible signing," signalling a smooth handover. Ball's show will include big guests, listener chats, and a regular "Something for the Weekend" segment every Friday afternoon. The station is betting that placing three familiar voices back-to-back will keep listeners tuned in across the full working day.
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