ZOE Ball has opened up on her secret health condition after revealing she was quitting her BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show.
This month, the much-loved presenter, 54, told how December 20 would be her last early-morning programme after six years as she chose to “focus on family.”
Listeners were quick to spot three clues she was set to up sticks, including a family tragedy and time off-air.
Yet now her struggle with a TMJ disorder – called Temporomandibular disorder – which can cause pain and stiffness around the jaw, ear and temple has now come to light.
Taking to her Instagram page, Zoe posted a series of snaps showing her before and after facial massage treatment.
The former Live and Kicking host wrote in her caption: “I have TMJ and wake most days with awful headaches from tension and jaw clenching.
“So grateful to Helen @sculptresslondon for her magic.
“This is my face after I’ve seen her, check out my face before – yikes – picture 2.”
Zoe added: “Can’t recommend her enough. She also has the greatest playlists.”
The temporomandibular joint is a hinge between the jawbone and the skull, and TMJ disorders cause pain, difficulty chewing, an aching face and locking of the joint.
It can be caused by a blow or jaw injury. But other risk factors are long term grinding of the teeth, clenching and arthritis.
In most cases, TMJ is temporary and gets better by resting the jaw and taking medications.
Zoe’s last BBC Radio 2 Breakfast show will be on Friday, December 20 – with “plenty of fun and shenanigans planned” ahead of Christmas.
Yet Zoe said she will remain on BBC Radio 2 – teasing an announcement in the new year.
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.”
Zoe was born in Blackpool and is daughter of the children’s TV presenter Johnny Ball and his wife Julia.
She appeared on television at a young age as part of the studio audience of the Saturday morning children’s show, Saturday Superstore when her father was a guest.
The star began her career in broadcasting as a presenter on the pre-school programme Playdays.
After various behind the scenes roles, she earned a spot as a regular host of Top of the Pops, when she alternated with the likes of Jayne Middlemiss and Jo Whiley.
In 1996, she was chosen to front BBC One‘s saturday morning show Live & Kicking, which led to stints on The Big Breakfast on Channel 4.
But she maintained a huge presence on the radio as she was chosen to be the co-host of BBC Radio 1 Breakfast alongside Kevin Greening in October 1997.
Zoe was later appointed the sole host of the show in a groundbreaking move by the corporation as she was the first female DJ to hold the post.
The presenter chose to leave the station in March 2000 to start a family, where she was succeeded by Sara Cox.
As a mainstream face in TV through the noughties, she hosted a range of huge programmes for ITV, including the Brit Awards in 2002, Extinct in 2006, and both Soapstar Superstar and Grease Is The Word in 2007.
In mid-2002, she returned to radio when she joined Xfm (later known as Radio X), when she was the voice of the weekday drivetime show until December 2003. In 2004, she stood in for Ricky Gervais while he filmed the second series of The Office.
In October 2005, she appeared as a contestant on the third series of Strictly Come Dancing, where she was partnered with Ian Waite, The star impressed viewers with her footwork and the duo waltzed into third place.
In 2011, she returned to the franchise as she took over as the host of the magazine spin-off show, It Takes Two.
She also filled in for Claudia Winkleman on the main show in 2014, when The Traitors star took leave after her daughter suffered serious burn injuries.
After 10 years fronting the show, Zoe announced she was quitting her role on BBC Two in May 2021.
Zoe’s journey in BBC Radio 2 started in 2006 when she fronted specialist documentaries. Over the years she sat in for names such as Dermot O’Leary, Ken Bruce and Chris Evans.
After several shake-ups, she returned to the station on a permanent basis when she took over Dermot’s Saturday afternoon slot between 3pm and 6pm.
In October 2018, Chris Evans moved to Virgin Radio and he personally announced that Zoe would take over his popular slot. She started presenting the breakfast show on 14 January 2019.
Telling her listeners about her decision, she said: “I’ve decided it’s time to step away from the early alarm call and start a new chapter.
“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 she would also miss her colleagues, saying they were “like family to me”.
The early morning presenter added: “But I won’t miss the 4am alarm call, if I’m completely honest.
“You know I love you all to bits.”
Her Breakfast Show replacement, Scott Mills, was then revealed.
