Zoe Ball has opened up about a VERY unexpected possibility — and her comments about I’m A Celebrity have left fans intrigued
My kids would die with embarrassment if I did I’m A Celeb – but never say never, says Zoe Ball
ZOE Ball loves a bit of reality TV, from Gogglebox to The Traitors — but admits she’d have to think twice about going into the jungle if and when I’m A Celeb bosses come knocking.
The broadcaster, 55, has done it all in her time on the box including kids’ TV and Strictly spin-off It Takes Two, but a stint down under would be too much for her two kids – Nelly, 16, and Woody, 24 — to take.
Zoe Ball says her two kids would be mortified if she ever did I’m A Celeb
Zoe is gearing up for her big return to radio next monthCredit: Getty
Speaking exclusively to The Sun from the Reading Festival site where she’s teamed up with Vodafone for its new Check-in & Chips service, Zoe told us: “Never say never, never say never.
“I think my kids would die of embarrassment if I went to the jungle. I think they’d hate it, but you can’t ever rule these things out.”
Zoe returns to the radio next month with a new show on Greatest Hits Radio, the home of her fellow former Radio 2 stars Ken Bruce and Simon Mayo.
She announced her defection with a hilarious Traitors parody that saw the Beeb trio don the famous cloaks from the murder mystery show to playfully reveal their reunion.
Zoe Ball is helping keep families connected inside and outside the festival with Vodafone’s Check-In & ChipsCredit: Vodafone
She announced her Greatest Hits Radio gig with fun Traitors parodyCredit: Instagram
The savage spoof was branded “genius” by fans and Zoe said she wanted to do Traitors host and pal Claudia Winkleman proud by fully leaning into it.
“I thought that it turned out so well. I was really proud of the team. They did such a good job,” said Zoe.
“And Simon and Ken were such good sports. We did have a real giggle making it. And we did make it, it was all a big secret.
“So it was a right laugh. I hope we did Claud proud.”
Zoe hosted the Radio 2 Breakfast Show for six yearsCredit: BBC
Zoe’s daughter Nelly, 16, is off to Reading and had been keeping her mum up to speed with the hottest new artistsCredit: Vodafone
Zoe’s been trying her hardest to get secrets from Celeb Traitors contestants Romesh Ranganathan and Rob Beckett ahead of series two, which airs later this year, but it’s been to no avail.
As much as she’s a huge fan, don’t expect Zoe to sign up next year as lying isn’t her forte.
“I think it’ll be excellent. I’m much better at watching it than doing it. I think I would be terrified to do it because I’m really bad at lying,” she said.
“So I’d give everything away. I’d be hopeless.
“But my family aren’t. We’re going to go and do the experience. We’re going to go and do that. We’re going to take my dad. So we’re going to do that soon.”
Zoe is a major coup for Greatest Hits. For six years, she hosted the Radio 2 Breakfast Show, pulling in 7million listeners each week.
Following her exit, first quarter figures saw the show lose 360,000 listeners, revealing just how important her voice and personality were to the audience.
Despite her experience, Zoe said she’s still feeling back to school nerves ahead of her launch show on the afternoon of September 7.
“We are in the midst of prep. We’re working on all our features, getting it all organised. And I’m so excited. But also there is that kind of first day nerves,” she said.
“Every time I talk about it, my tummy does a little flip. Because it’s like new girl at school, just praying that no one sticks a sticker on my back, you know, when I’m walking around. Ken and Simon, hopefully will look after me.
“But I can’t wait, actually. I’ve been learning all the new jingles and all the new phone numbers. Because you’ve got to get your head around a whole new language.”
There’ll be classic tracks from the Doobie Brothers and plenty of yacht rock on the show, but Zoe also has her finger on the pulse naming the likes of Phoebe Bridgers, Get Down Services, Kofi Stone and Django Django as her current faves.
Part of that is down to her daughter Nelly, who is heading to Reading Festival this weekend to watch acts like Charli XCX, Florence and the Machine and Fontaines D.C.
Zoe will rest easier knowing she can contact Nelly whenever she likes thanks to the Check-in & Chips area where young festivalgoers, particularly those who are first-timers, can send messages home and enjoy some free grub.
Zoe said: “I think the main thing for me getting involved in this project was, it’s such a genius idea. The idea that when your teens are checking in, they can get a message back to mum or dad or parents or whoever’s in charge of them, and just let them know that they’ve arrived safely, they’ve set up their camp, so you’re happy, and then they get free chips.
“As a parent, it is terrifying when your kids are going off on their own.
“You want them to go off, have the best time and enjoy that independence… but you also really, really want that little message home to know they’re having an amazing time and all is well.
“The great thing about Reading Festival is they have really good network coverage. There’s no excuses for the kids not to get a message back to you.”
