Beloved BBC Radio 2 presenter Zoe Ball has shared the devastating news that her mother, Julia Peckham, has passed away after a courageous battle with cancer. In a heartfelt message posted on social media, Zoe paid tribute to her mother’s strength and dignity, writing: “Our beautiful mum, Julia, has left us. She fought her illness with such strength and grace. We are heartbroken.”
The 53-year-old broadcaster recently took time away from her radio duties to be by her mother’s side during her final weeks. During her absence, Gaby Roslin filled in on air, while listeners and colleagues flooded Zoe with messages of love and support. Those close to her say she wanted to step away from the spotlight to be fully present — not as a presenter, but as a daughter.
In her post, Zoe also expressed deep gratitude to the doctors, nurses, and care teams who cared for her mother throughout her illness, as well as to friends and fans for their kindness. “We are so grateful for the care Mum received and for all the love shown to our family. My brother Jamie and I will never forget the warmth and compassion surrounding us.” Her words reflected both heartbreak and appreciation — the quiet strength of a daughter finding solace amid sorrow.
Julia Peckham is remembered as a woman of warmth, humour, and resilience — qualities she instilled in her children. Zoe closed her tribute with a moving reflection: “Mum taught us kindness, laughter, and courage. We will carry her light with us always.” It was a farewell steeped not only in grief but in gratitude — a reminder, as Zoe wrote, that “grief is the price we pay for love, and through that love, the ones we lose are never truly gone.”
