Zoe Ball

What's the secret to sounding positive and cheerful at that time of the morning, even when you're not?

I think because it's a gift of a job, Lauren. I absolutely love it. I might not love it when the alarm clock goes off and your face is full of pillow, but I've learned over the years that the feet have to go out of the bed, straight on the floor, up you jump, and off you go. And I work with such a brilliant team on the show.

Are those kinds of firsts important to you?

When I started at Radio One, I don't think I really understood how much of a moment that was. This time around, with Radio Two, all eyes turned. To follow Chris Evans is one thing, to follow Chris Evans and Terry Wogan is another thing. And obviously, there's lots of chat about you being the first girl. I hope I wasn't employed because I was a woman. I hope I was employed because they looked around and thought she's the best person for the job at this point in time. So, let's give her a shot.

You didn't see your mum for many years. You're close now and reconnected later, but how has time given you a different perspective on that, especially as a parent yourself?

It makes you realise how important actually those relationships are and how tricky it is to be in a relationship and to survive a relationship splitting up. I think there were times when I'd be sort of slightly cross with various parents for various things. It was tough not seeing my mum for all those years because I think it does make you question a lot of stuff as a kid. But whether it was your fault, I think that's a real thing that I'm so keen with my kids to understand is that, you know, what happens to adults as you're growing up is not your fault. But I was very loved and very supportive and.

Why did you leave Radio One?

I think it was a bit of a whirlwind. I think from meeting Norman and everything had ramped up, suddenly the tabloids were really fascinated with our life and it's kind of a thing where you end up, I think, perpetuating the myth slightly of sort of almost living up to expectation. And there were so many people everywhere that we were. And I don't know, it just felt like I needed to step back a little bit.

What helped you get that understanding?

I was lucky enough to go to rehab actually and through meeting other people who had addictions as well. Also the other thing is that although I would always at school be doing performances and stuff like that, underneath, I'm quite shy. ... I think that was a little thing that you could walk into the room if you'd had a drink. ... you start leaning on those things a little bit too much and you lose sight of who you are and who you are without those things as well.

What have you learned about mental health and mental well-being that you wish you'd known earlier?

One is to listen sometimes. I think we all want to fix and you run around trying to fix someone, but actually sometimes to sit down and just listen. To listen to what they're going through. I think also when you know people who are living with these struggles, you've got to check in. They don't always want to talk. They want to be isolated. They won't want to be a burden. And sometimes you've really got to go one step beyond, and hopefully, someone's story will have a more positive ending to it.