Zoe Ball asked whether “the anxiety dreams ever stop?” as she was named the first female host of the Radio 2 Breakfast show.
The 47-year-old former ladette will follow in the “giant footsteps” of Chris Evans, who earns at least £1.6 million for the role, and his predecessor Sir Terry Wogan on the UK’s most listened-to radio programme.
After weeks of speculation, Ball dropped in on Evans, 52, in his Radio 2 studio to make what she called the “bonkers” announcement.
?Drumroll please!?
Our brand new Breakfast Show host is @ZoeTheBall! ?https://t.co/th597DBxQI pic.twitter.com/dbfQgMsuHO
— BBC Radio 2 (@BBCRadio2) October 3, 2018
“I am a crazy mix of elation, wanting to burst into tears, thinking about running away, everything. But mainly thrilled,” she told the DJ, who is moving to Virgin Radio.
“I definitely didn’t expect to get a call but getting a call was an amazing thing,” she said.
Ball said that taking up the job was “somewhat daunting” and added: “You think, ‘I can’t do it. How can I do it?’”
But her teenage son helped her make up her mind.
“He said: ‘Mum, Come on. Don’t even think about it. It’s the coolest thing you can do.
“‘Be the first girl on Radio 2 Breakfast. It’s amazing.’ He looked into my eyes and said: ‘Someone will listen.’”
Her younger daughter Nelly could be more difficult to win over, telling Ball: “I’ll probably listen to Greg (James on Radio 1) but if he plays a bad record mummy I might listen to you to see if you’re alright.”
Ball said she will have to “see how it goes” when it comes to hosting Strictly Come Dancing’s spin-off show It Takes Two show, saying: “I’m really hoping I can do both.”
And she joked to the DJ, who will be her breakfast show rival once again: “Will you leave some of your listeners? I know a lot may go with you Chris.”
Admitting nerves, she asked: “Do the anxiety dreams ever stop? Will I ever sleep again?
“I know some people will be (saying): ‘We didn’t want her.’ But I hope some people will give me a chance.”
Evans, who recently became a father to twins, said: “It’s one of the best jobs in this business, as you know… You really light up the radio.”
Ball, who was favourite to take over the high-profile role, was previously at the forefront of the “ladette culture” that swept through broadcasting because of her hard-drinking party lifestyle.
She recently made a programme for Sport Relief following the loss of her partner, Billy Yates, who was found dead at his home at the age of 40.
Ball, who was previously married to DJ and record producer Fatboy Slim, hosts a live Saturday afternoon show on Radio 2 and has stepped in for Evans.
BBC boss Lord Hall recently said the disclosure of Evans’ pay packet was one factor behind his decision to quit Radio 2.
Sara Cox will continue to cover the Radio 2 Breakfast Show for 10 weeks each year, while Ball is away.
Ball, who starts in her new role next year, and Evans were Breakfast Show rivals when she was on Radio 1 and former Radio 1 host Evans joined Virgin Radio.
