Zoe Ball says ‘I still miss him’ as she admits being in tears over family change

Former Strictly Come Dancing star Zoe Ball sympathised with a podcast listener as she opened up about the emotional challenge many parents face

Zoe Ball has opened up about an emotional change that many parents and guardians can relate to. In an episode of her Dig It podcast with Jo Whiley, the pair were asked for advice by a listener who was struggling to come to terms with her child moving away to university.

Zoe immediately sympathised with the mum, having been through the experience with both of her children, Woody and Nelly, whom she shares with her ex-husband, Norman Cook, aka Fatboy Slim.

Woody lives in Bristol, where he studies at university and also works as a DJ, while her daughter Nelly studies though has remained in Brighton.

The radio presenter told the listener, named Cat, that the “initial month is the hardest” because of the build-up to them leaving and the moment you have to say goodbye.

However, she and Jo tried to reassure the listener that things become easier over time, while reminding her that children will always need their parents or guardians, no matter what.

“They’re scared too because they’re going to walk into a place and make new friends and be brave and take risks and you just want them to be safe, and you want them to meet new buddies and they do and they thrive,” the 55-year-old continued.

“And they thrive because they know that you’re there for them if they need you and they’re going to [need you].”

Zoe went on to say that she thinks the change is “harder for parents”, as they’re the ones left behind to deal with the empty nest.

“Woody went off and I’d often be found crying on his bed, you know, and I still miss him,” she revealed.

“He still has a bed at mine that he’s very rarely in but when he does… this week, I was telling everyone the other day how he got stranded in Amsterdam and who does he call? He calls his mum, so that is the thing, they’re always going to need you in a slightly different way.

“Empty nest is a big thing and it’s tough to get through but you will get through it and you miss them,” she continued.

Jo also revealed that she struggled when the first of her four children went off to study. “It’s really hard,” she admitted. “Nobody prepared me for that.

“I cried so hard, I couldn’t breathe because I was crying so hard,” she added. Jo said that while she’s “better” at coping with it now, she was still dreading the moment her daughter Coco leaves.

But reassuring the listener, she reminded her that “they still come back”, adding: “It’s absolutely fine.”

Zoe shared her thoughts after revealing that her daughter had moved in with her dad in a previous episode.

In May, she said her house had become much quieter with no children at home, adding: “It’s less and less [noise] because Nel is based more at her dad’s now. I think she’s got to that point of, ‘Ah, can I just be in one place?’.

“It’s just nice not having to move from house to house, so she’s just spending more time there now,” before adding that her ex’s home was thankfully nearby.