Zoe Ball: BBC Radio 2 DJ returns six weeks after her unexplained absence as she asks fans 'what have I missed?'

The DJ was last had been missing from her regular breakfast show since August 12, with presenters such as Scott Mills and Gaby Roslin stepping in in her place. Fans were left concerned after no explanation was given over Ball’s absences, which stretched over six long weeks.

However, she has now returned to her show telling fans that the “wanderer has returned”, asking listeners “what have I missed?”. Ball, who did not divulge the reason for her absences, also joked with one listener that she “did not go to Turkey for new teeth”, while also thanking Scott Mills and others for covering her show.

Fans have welcomed Ball’s return. One took to X (formerly Twitter) to say: “Hooray! Zoë Ball is back on the wireless!”

Listeners were previously concerned that Ball would not be returning to the show or even the station whatsoever due to the extended break and subsequent silence, with one insider telling the MailOnline that “nobody” at BBC Radio 2 “ knows what has happened but everyone loves Zoe”. However, the BBC confirmed last week that she would be returning to the show before the end of the month.

Ball has previously taken time from her show following the death of her mother, Julia Peckham, from cancer in April. She returned to the show but after only a handful of days, Ball was mysteriously replaced by Mills on August 12.