Zoe Ball headed shopping on Wednesday as she was seen for the first time after she announced she is leaving her £950,000 role as BBC Radio 2’s Breakfast Show host. 

The presenter, 53, revealed on air she will depart the show on December 20 after six years to ‘focus on family’, but remain on the station. 

24 hours after the announcement, Zoe looked in good spirits as she shopped at luxury high street retailer Me & Em and grabbed a juice. 

The presenter, who has two children Woody, 23, and Nelly, 14, with ex-husband Norman Cook, cut a casual figure in a green jumper, padded coat and navy jeans for her outing in London. 

Scott Mills, who currently hosts Radio 2’s weekday afternoon programme from 2 – 4pm, will takeover Zoe’s breakfast slot in January. 

Zoe had taken a mysterious six week absence hosting over the summer – with Scott stepping in as her replacement – before she returned in September.

Zoe Ball headed shopping on Wednesday as she was seen for the first time after she announced she is leaving her £950,000 role as BBC Radio 2’s Breakfast Show host 

24 hours after the announcement, Zoe looked in good spirits as she shopped at luxury high street retailer Me & Em and grabbed a juice

The presenter, 53, revealed on air she will depart the show on December 20 after six years to ‘focus on family’, but remain on the station

Speaking about her departure on her show, Zoe said: ”After six years of fun times alongside you all on the breakfast show, I’ve decided it’s time to step away from the early alarm call and start a new chapter.’

The veteran presenter said she was ‘thrilled’ to reveal her good friend Mill, as her replacement, telling listeners: ‘Scott and I go way back to our Radio 1 days, when he was doing early mornings before me. He’s been a close friend for years, and I’m beyond thrilled it’s him taking over the Breakfast Show.

‘Breakfast has always been his dream, and what a year he’s had – from racing around the world to his beautiful wedding to Sam. He’s not only a blooming brilliant producer but one of the best in radio. I can’t wait to tune in on the school run!’.

Reaction to the announcement on social media has been mixed, with one listener branding him ‘such a terrible replacement’ while another called this morning’s announcement ‘horrific news’.

Others have vowed to switch off as a result, with one saying it was ‘time to find another station’.

Yet others have been more favourable, with responses including ‘fantastic news’ and offering ‘huge congratulations’ while describing him as ‘equally talented’ to Zoe.

Mills joined his friend on her show this morning and said he was ‘beyond excited’ to become host. 

Scott Mills, who currently hosts Radio 2’s weekday afternoon programme from 2 – 4pm, will takeover Zoe’s breakfast slot in January. 

The presenter cut a casual figure in a green jumper, padded coat and navy jeans for her outing in London

Zoe appeared in good spirits a day after announcing she will leave her breakfast show next month

Zoe enjoyed a juice as she headed shopping in London

The presenter recently split from her long term partner Michael Reed, 53 (pictured 2021) 

Zoe has two children with ex-husband Norman Cook;  Woody, 23, (pictured) and Nelly, 14 

Read MoreBREAKING NEWS Fans divided over Zoe Ball’s BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show replacement

He said: ‘Zoe and I have been such good friends now for over 25 years and have spent much of that time as part of the same radio family here at Radio 2 and also on Radio 1. She’s done an incredible job on this show over the past six years, and I am beyond excited to be handed the baton.

‘It feels ever since recording my first shows as a kid for an audience of one, my mum, all roads since have led to this amazing opportunity. It really is a lifelong dream come true to follow in the footsteps of Sir Terry, Chris and Zoe to be the new presenter of the Radio 2 Breakfast Show.’

Ball was the BBC’s highest-paid on-air female presenter in 2023/24 with a salary between £950,000 and £954,999, ranking her second on the list of top-earning talent behind Gary Lineker, according to the corporation’s annual report published in July.

Lineker revealed he had been axed from Match of the Day earlier this month, in the latest of a string of high profile BBC exits.

Ball was the first female host of the Radio 1 Breakfast Show in 1998, a post she held until 2000, and she also co-hosted the BBC’s Saturday morning children’s magazine Live & Kicking alongside Jamie Theakston for three years from 1996.

Ball told listeners this morning: ‘You know I think the world of you all, listeners, and it truly has been such a privilege to share the mornings with you, to go through life’s little ups and downs, we got through the lockdown together, didn’t we?

‘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: ‘But I won’t miss the 4am alarm call, if I’m completely honest.’ 

In an official statement, 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. It’s been a privilege. 

‘I think the world of you listeners and I’m grateful to my bosses here for their support, especially this year.’

Ball said her last show will be on December 20, adding: ‘Just in time for Christmas with plenty of fun and shenanigans. 

‘While I’m stepping away from the Breakfast Show, I’m not disappearing entirely – I’ll still be a part of the Radio 2 family, with more news in the New Year.

‘I’m excited to embrace my next chapter, including being a mum in the mornings, and I can’t wait to tune in on the school run!’

The presenter’s decision to step away from the show comes after she sparked concern with a mysterious six-week absence from the airwaves. 

In September, she returned to air with business as usual and  offered her fans a lively welcome back and asked listeners ‘what have I missed?’