Zoe Ball, the celebrated British radio presenter, went down her memory lane to learn her ancestral history, delving into her roots and stories. Starring in the TV series ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’, the 55-year-old broadcaster opened up about wanting to know her background, sharing a devastating truth.Here’s a closer look at Zoe Ball’s episode in ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’
Zoe Ball reveals her childhood in Who Do You Think You Are?’
Becoming the first celebrity to understand her ancestry this year on the show, Zoe Ball revealed that she is keen on getting to know more about her family after her mother’s demise in 2024. Born in 1970 in Blackpool, the British personality moved to Buckinghamshire when she was 2 years old after her parents divorced. “We lost my mum last year, and it really made me step back and look at the bigger picture and re-evaluate what is important in my life,” she said in the show, according to Liverpool Echo UK. Zoe revealed that she was brought up by her dad and her stepmother, Di, receiving less information about her maternal family. “I didn’t see my mum for 14 years, which is a long time for a kid not to see their mum. When we did connect again, when I was 18, there was a lot of making up to do,” she stated, adding that her childhood was tough. Taking a hardcore journey from Scotland to Cornwall, Ball started to investigate both sides of her family. Sharing one of the most heartwrenching facts, the radio presenter said that her maternal grandmother had mental health struggles. “I don’t remember ever meeting my mum’s mum. Her name was Margaret, but everyone called her Peg. For a time, she was in what would have been called an asylum in those days, because she struggled with her mental health,” she said. In the episode, Zoe also mentioned a story about her great-great-great-grandfather James Temby, a Cornish miner. He wanted to relocate to Guernsey, as he had been promised a job opportunity in granite quarries. However, he and his family were deported, as per Digital Spy.
About ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’
The new instalment of the TV show ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’ revolves around eight celebrities getting to know their roots, discovering their family, background, and ancestors across the globe, including India, Australia, The Bahamas, Italy, Tasmania, and more. The line-up for the previous year includes Andrew Garfield, Diane Morgan, Ross Kemp, Layton Williams, Fred Sirieix, and more.
