Zoe Ball lost BBC Radio 2 gig because she was 'over 50', dad Johnny claims

Veteran presenter Johnny Ball has accused the BBC of ageism as he publicly claimed that the broadcaster let his daughter Zoe leave Radio 2 because she was "over 50".

Zoe's long career at BBC radio, in which she was the first female presenter to host the Radio 1 and Radio 2 breakfast shows, came to an end in December 2025, with the presenter, 55, moving to Greatest Hits Radio in September.

But while promoting his memoir An Autobiography: Stories That Have To Be Told at the Dorchester Literary Festival, her father Johnny, 88, claimed that the BBC had a habit of phasing out its older presenters, Zoe included.

Discussing his many decades presenting shows such as Play School, Think of a Number and Think Again on the BBC, Johnny said that he had "loved every minute of it" (via The Daily Mail).

Johnny made the allegations while speaking at a book festival

PA Archive

"But what happens when you are 50 at the BBC? Gone!" he told the audience. "Zoe was 54. Gone! You cannot believe it because we gave so much to the BBC."

The Standard has contacted the BBC for comment.

The BBC has faced allegations of ageism in the past, with the corporation last year settling with four BBC News presenters (Martine Croxall, Karin Giannone, Kasia Madera and Annita McVeigh) after they launched an employment tribunal alleging age and sex discrimination.

In reaching a resolution there is no acceptance of liability by the BBC, who had insisted its application process was "rigorous and fair".

Ball joined Greatest Hits Radio in September

As a trailblazer for women in BBC radio, Ball was one of the BBC's best paid female stars before her exit. She began her step back from Radio 2 in late 2024, as she left the station's breakfast show after six years to "focus on family".

The case was dropped at the time due to lack of evidence, and while the BBC had previously been aware of the investigation itself, Mills was reportedly dismissed after the BBC were informed of the alleged victim's age.

Ball returned to host the Saturday afternoon slot on the station in May 2025, but then departed before the year was out, with Strictly Come Dancing host Emma Willis taking over.

She joined Greatest Hits Radio in September, hosting a weekday afternoon show after following former Radio 2 presenter Ken Bruce over to the station.