Television presenter Zoe Ball has spoken about her 16-year-old daughter Nelly's decision to spend more time living with her father, DJ Norman Cook, also known as Fatboy Slim. Ball, 55, shared on the "Dig It" podcast with Jo Whiley that Nelly is now primarily based at her father's residence.
"Nell is based more at her dad’s now because I think she’s got to that point of ‘Ah, can I just be in one place?’" Ball explained. Nelly is currently preparing for her GCSE examinations at a private school in Sussex. Ball noted that Nelly's revision materials are at her father's house, and the teenager prefers the stability of being in one location rather than moving between residences. Ball added that while Nelly is spending more time with Cook, she can still visit her mother at any time.
Friends of Ball have suggested that Nelly's move is not directly related to Ball's new partner, TV production designer Mathieu Weeks, with whom she has been dating for a year and who has moved into her home. Some have speculated that Nelly might have felt a change in dynamics, while others point to Ball's 'scatty' and 'chaotic' nature, contrasting it with Cook's more stable presence. Ball herself was diagnosed with ADHD three years ago, and she has stated that both her children also have the diagnosis. She has described her own brain as being easily distracted and that she can see why Nelly might sometimes live in chaos. However, she also noted that Nelly has begun to develop her own routines for tidying and preparing for school.
Ball, who previously hosted the BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show, separated from Cook in 2016 after 19 years of marriage. They share two children: Woody, 25, and Nelly, 16. Ball moved into a Brighton townhouse close to Cook's residence in the summer of 2024, following the death of her mother, Julia, from pancreatic cancer. This loss prompted Ball to leave her £500,000-a-year radio job to focus on her family. Ball has previously spoken about wanting to be more present as a mother.
Zoe Ball's personal life has seen significant events, including a period of estrangement from her own mother after her parents' divorce, and the tragic death of her former partner, Billy Yates, in 2017. She has also been open about her journey with sobriety, having previously sought help for alcoholism with Cook. Despite these challenges, Ball has stated that her current partner, Weeks, has brought 'calm and order' to her home.
Nelly's father, Norman Cook, is described as a calm port in a storm, and the stability of his household, along with the support of his staff, including a housekeeper-cum-nanny, may have been a significant factor for Nelly as she navigates her important exams. Friends note that the unconventional family dynamic is often humorously referred to by the children as putting 'the fun into dysfunctional.'