Zoe Ball reveals secret painful disorder after Radio 2 breakfast show exit

Zoe Ball has revealed a painful health condition she’s been suffering with as she stepped down from her Radio 2 breakfast show role.

The BBC presenter, 54, announced her departure from the Radio 2 Breakfast Show last week after six years.

Her replacement will be fellow BBC radio star and friend Scott Mills.

Now, taking to social media Zoe has revealed she’s been suffering with TMJ – temporomandibular joint disorder – a dysfunction which causes pain and tenderness in jaw joints.

Causes include teeth grinding, jaw injuries, arthritis and everyday wear and tear.

Alongside a before and after treatment photo of her face, Zoe wrote: ‘I have TMJ and wake most days with awful headaches from tension and jaw clenching.

‘So grateful to Helen @thesculptresslondon for her magic. this is my face after I’ve seen her, check out my face before – yikes – picture 2. Can’t recommend her enough.’  

This comes as it was reported Zoe could be returning to her TV roots following her radio exit.

The Sun report Zoe is being eyed up by Netflix and ITV following her radio exit, with a source claiming Zoe’s attitude right now is ‘life’s too short’.

The mum-of-two has previously appeared on shows including Celebrity Gogglebox, The Masked Singer and last year she hosted talent show Mamma Mia!

A source told the outlet: ‘The ‘life’s too short’ mantra she seems to be adopting doesn’t just extend to leaving the gruelling job of doing the Radio 2 Breakfast Show, it now includes looking at going back to her TV roots.

‘After all, she sees her contemporaries like Claudia Winkleman, Tess Daly, and Davina McCall appearing on prime-time shows.

‘It seems there’s never been a better time to be a fifty-something woman in TV presenting, and Zoe already brings with her a huge following.’

In her breakfast show role Zoe was second in line on the BBC rich list – with a salary of £954,999 – behind now-departed Match of the Day star Gary Lineker.

In her parting statement – confirming her last show will be on December December 20 – Zoe did say she would still be part of the Radio 2 family, so wasn’t exiting the station entirely.

‘After six incredible years on the Radio 2 Breakfast Show, it’s time for me to step away from the very early mornings and focus on family. It’s been a privilege,’ she said.

‘I think the world of you listeners and I’m grateful to my bosses here for their support, especially this year.

‘Huge thanks go to my awesome team on the show, Tina, Mike and Richie, and of course our listeners, with whom I’ve shared some of life’s highs and lows, the good, the bad and the daft times.’

‘My last show will be on Friday December 20, just in time for Christmas with plenty of fun and shenanigans.

‘While I’m stepping away from the Breakfast Show, I’m not disappearing entirely – I’ll still be a part of the Radio 2 family, with more news in the New Year.’

‘I’m excited to embrace my next chapter, including being a mum in the mornings, and I can’t wait to tune in on the school run!’

Zoe has endured a difficult year after her mother died suddenly in April just 12 weeks after being diagnosed with cancer.

The radio DJ had announced her mother Julia Peckham’s pancreatic cancer diagnosis in March and took time off work to care for her.

Fast-forward to August, and fans also missed Zoe in another unexplained absence which lasted over six weeks.

Just ahead of her September return her son Woody Cook – who she shares with ex-husband DJ Fatboy Slim, 61 –  told MailOnline that he was ‘glad to see her smiling through tough times’.

Zoe and the Praise You hitmaker – who are still close – also share 14-year-old Nelly.

Metro has contacted Zoe Ball’s representatives for comment.

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