Zoe Ball looks happy in first outing since Radio 2 exit after low-key appearance at Elton John gig

The much-loved broadcaster was seen for the first time since her Radio 2 breakfast departure at Elton John's star-studded show at the London Palladium

BBC Radio 2 star Zoe Ball made her first public appearance at the Elton John show since stepping down from the breakfast show. The star appeared to be having a great time at the gig which comes after a difficult year for the star in which her mum died.

She joined a plethora of stars including Sam Fender, Ronnie Wood, Jason Momoa, and Björn Ulvaeus at the London Palladium. An onlooker said: "She seemed in great spirits and was singing along."

Her outing comes after her dad Johnny recently opened up about her tough year. He said: “Her mum died last year and she's had various other problems, but she's chuffed to have packed in the Radio 2 breakfast show, as she's realised every day has 24 hours now.

“Her days used to start at 4am and by the time it got to midday she was knackered. She visited me recently and said: 'I'm in such a good place'.”

The broadcaster left the station's breakfast show last year, with her close friend Scott Mills taking over as host. But she will soon be back with a weekly music offering.

Zoe's Saturday show will run from 1pm to 3pm, playing some of her favourite hits and having "lots of laughs". Helen Thomas, head of Radio 2, said: "Zoe is one of the UK's most I'm loved presenters, so I'm thrilled to announce that she has a new home on Radio 2 on Saturday lunchtimes.

"Plus she'll be hosting various specials for us throughout the year."

Zoe, 54, who presented her last Radio 2 Breakfast Show on December 20 after six years, most recently presented two episodes of Christmas Crooners over the festive period. As previously announced, she will also host TV show Elaine Paige: 60 Years in Showbusiness, a concert honouring the extraordinary career of the singer who is also the station's host of Elaine Paige on Sunday.

The news comes after Zoe's eldest child, musician Woody Cook, revealed that she had been helping out in a cafe following her Radio 2 exit. He said: "These crazy party people I grew up with are now gardening, making puzzles and working in the local cafe."

Woody, 24, also said he was thrilled about Zoe leaving the breakfast show. He explained: "It's lovely seeing my mum more... obviously she's had quite a weird schedule for the last few years."

Zoe announced that she would be departing Radio 2 just months after her extended absence during the summer following her mother's death. In a statement on air, she said that she believed it was time to "start a new chapter".

However, she confirmed that she would be still be working with Radio 2 in some capacity after her breakfast show exit. Her mother Julia passed away aged 74 in April last year following the news that she had been diagnosed with cancer. Before Zoe's decision to walk away, the breakfast show's audience increased.

An average of 6.8 million people listened to Zoe's show across the final quarter of the last year, according to statistics organisation Rajar. The figure was up 9% on the previous three months and the highest the show had generated since 2023.