Zoe Ball shares painful health condition days after announcing BBC Radio 2 exit
Zoe Ball has shared details of a painful condition she has been suffering with, soon after announcing her decision to step down from her BBC Radio 2 show.
The presenter, 53, is set to host her final show at the end of December after fronting the breakfast show for six years.
On Wednesday, Ball shared a health condition on social media, announcing she suffers from the painful symptoms most days.
Alongside two photos, she wrote on Instagram: “I have TMJ and wake most days with awful headaches from tension & jaw clenching.
“So grateful to Helen @thesculptresslondon for her magic. this is my face after i’ve seen her, check out my face before – yikes – picture 2.”
She concluded: “can’t recommend her enough. she also has the greatest playlists. thank you H and to @just.__.tiff for the intro.” (sic)
The TMJ is the joint between the jawbone and temporal bone, with disorders causing pain across the jaw, neck and shoulder along with some other symptoms.
Fans soon flocked to the comments to express their sympathies, with many sharing their own experiences of the condition.
The radio star replaced Chris Evans on the show back in 2018, and confirmed this month she would be leaving.
Addressing her listeners, she stated: “Okay you lovely bunch, I have some news.
“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.
“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?”
Ball continued: “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.
“I’m going to miss my amazing Prod Squad who I adore. Already missing Mike, I’m going to miss Tina and Richie. They’ve all become like family to me, like you lot.
“But I won’t miss the 4am alarm call, if I’m completely honest. So my last Breakfast show will be with you on the 20th of December and then its high kicks all the way to Christmas, gang.”
She went on to reassure fans she wouldn’t become a stranger and is sticking with the Radio 2 “family”.
“I just want to say I’m so grateful to my incredible boss ladies, to Helen and Laura and Lorna and Fiona, they have always been so supportive of me especially in this job and particularly this year, so thank you ladies,” she continued.
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Earlier this year, Ball shared the heartbreaking news that her mother had died following a cancer diagnosis as she temporarily stepped away from her hosting duties.
She wrote: “Sleep tight dear Mama,” along with a photo of her mother, Julia.
The caption continued: “Thank you for teaching us how to love unconditionally, to always show courage and empathy, and how, even in the darkest of days, laughter is the greatest of gifts.
“We are bereft without you but will hold so tight to each other.”