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Zoe Ball has spoken candidly about the difficulties of ending a relationship and bringing a new partner into children's lives. The broadcaster quipped that she understood that scenario all too well, having gone through a highly publicised marriage breakdown herself.

The 55-year-old was married to Norman Cook aka Fatboy Slim from 1999 to 2016, with whom she shares two children, Woody and Nelly Ball. In a recent instalment of her podcast Dig It, a listener sought advice from Zoe and her co-host Jo Whiley on introducing a new partner to children after a separation.

The anonymous caller revealed that she had ended her 18-year marriage a year and a half ago after being "desperately unhappy". More recently, she has begun seeing someone new, though is now apprehensive about telling her sons, who had found the split difficult.

To comfort the listener, Jo suggested her sons would ultimately come to terms with the circumstances, before asking Zoe for her thoughts.

"Well, yes I have [experienced this] and quite a few times," the BBC Radio 2 presenter responded. Making light of her children's reactions to her relationships, she quipped: "'Another one?!' as my kids would say, just kidding."

She went on to say: "But firstly, yes it is so hard to leave a relationship when you know it's the right thing to do. It's just so difficult, you feel awful for the person you've left, you feel terrible for breaking up a family, you feel guilty for your family, it is a lot.

"It does take such bravery but when you're out and the dust starts to settle, you realise it was exactly what you needed to do. And hopefully as your kids get older you can talk to them a little bit more about why that happened.

"Sometimes you might not want to talk to them about that, they might not want to hear it," she continued.

"I think sometimes it takes for them to be adults themselves and be in relationships to realise how difficult it is, really. But I do understand that guilt that you probably have in your heart."

Following her separation from Norman, the presenter embarked on a relationship with Billy Yates, who tragically took his own life just months after they started dating.

She subsequently found love once more with Michael Reed, though their romance ended after five years in 2023. The presenter has now found happiness with Mathieu Weekes, who she refers to as "the lodger" on her podcast.

Offering guidance on introducing a new partner into the household, Zoe described it as "a tricky" situation, though advised taking time to develop the relationship before bringing family into the picture.

"I think don't be keen to do it so soon," she cautioned. "You can get carried away with the whole thing."

Looking back on her own journey, she continued: "In the past I've rushed that," before acknowledging it was "all a bit much" for everyone concerned.