Zoe Ball’s partner is reported to be Mathieu Weekes, a BAFTA-winning television production designer. The pair were first photographed together publicly in January 2026 near Ball’s Brighton home, following months of the presenter teasing a new relationship on her podcast . However, neither Ball nor Weekes has issued a formal public statement confirming the relationship, and the identification originates from tabloid reports citing anonymous sources.
Who Is Mathieu Weekes?
Mathieu Weekes, 49, is an award-winning production designer whose credits include some of British television’s biggest entertainment formats. He worked on The Traitors, Love Island, and Squid Game: The Challenge, and won a BAFTA Craft Award in 2021 for his work on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! . Before moving into design, he trained at The London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and began his career as a scenic carpenter, later founding his own company, Bizibot, in 2012 .
The couple reportedly met in 2023 on the set of Mamma Mia! I Have a Dream, a talent show filmed in Greece. Ball presented the series, while Weekes designed its set . Their paths crossing professionally appears to have marked the start of a relationship that Ball kept largely private for over a year.
How the Relationship Unfolded
Ball first hinted at a new romance during her Radio 2 show in June 2025, referring to “my fella” shortly before the couple were seen together at Glastonbury . On her Dig It podcast, co-hosted with Jo Whiley, she playfully called him “The Lodger” while acknowledging he had moved into her seaside home . Weekes previously lived in Richmond and still owns a property there .
The relationship became public knowledge in January 2026 when photographs emerged of the pair walking arm in arm near Ball’s Brighton residence . The timing coincided with a period of significant change for Ball, who stepped down from her BBC Radio 2 Saturday show at the end of 2025 to spend more time with family .Zoe Ball Quick Bio
Notes on Unconfirmed Fields: Zoe Ball’s exact net worth has not been publicly verified. The figure shown reflects her disclosed BBC salary for 2024/25, not total wealth. Her reported partner, Matt Weekes, has not been officially confirmed by Ball or her representatives; the information originates from media reports citing anonymous sources.
Ball’s Approach to Family and New Partners
Ball has spoken candidly about the difficulties of introducing new partners to her children. On a March 2026 episode of Dig It, she admitted she had “rushed” that process in past relationships . She explained that her children, Woody and Nelly, would jokingly ask “Another one?” when meeting a new partner, and that she now believes it is healthier to keep a private life separate from her children’s world for a while .
“I think the right person will respect your relationship with your kids, will respect the relationship you have with your ex,” Ball said on the podcast. “I’d be wary of anyone who wants this to happen too soon for you” . The advice reflects lessons learned from a romantic history that has included both enduring friendship and profound loss.
A History of Love and Loss
Ball’s most significant long-term relationship remains her marriage to musician Norman Cook, better known as Fatboy Slim. The couple married in 1999 and had two children, Woody and Nelly, before announcing their separation in September 2016 after 18 years together . Their divorce was finalised in 2020, and they have maintained a notably amicable co-parenting arrangement, living near each other in Brighton . Ball has credited Cook’s parents, who divorced but remained close, as an inspiration for their family dynamic .
Following her separation from Cook, Ball dated Billy Yates, a cameraman for Antiques Roadshow. The relationship began in early 2017, but Yates, 40, was found dead at his London home in May 2017 . Ball has spoken openly about the impact of his death, describing it as “the hardest thing I’ve ever had to deal with” and subsequently presenting a documentary, Zoe’s Hardest Road Home, examining grief and suicide . She has continued to mark the anniversary of his death and has raised funds for mental health causes in his memory .
Before her reported relationship with Weekes, Ball dated construction company boss Michael Reed for approximately five years. The relationship ended in May 2023 .
What Remains Unconfirmed
While the tabloid reporting on Weekes is detailed and consistent across several outlets, including the Daily Mail and Mirror, it relies on unnamed sources and paparazzi photographs rather than official confirmation . Ball has referenced a partner on her podcast but has not named him publicly. Readers should treat the identification of Weekes as reported rather than officially verified until Ball or her representatives choose to comment. What is certain is that Ball’s personal life has long been shaped by her commitment to family, her children, and an unusually civil co-parenting relationship with her famous ex-husband.
Who is Zoe Ball’s partner?
Zoe Ball’s partner is reported to be Mathieu Weekes, a 49-year-old BAFTA-winning television production designer. The two were photographed together for the first time in January 2026 near Ball’s home in Brighton, and subsequently multiple media outlets identified the man’s identity. It is important to note that neither Ball nor Weekes has issued a formal public statement confirming the relationship, and the information primarily comes from media reports citing anonymous sources.
How did Zoe Ball and Mathieu Weekes meet?
The two are reported to have met in 2023 on the set of the talent show Mamma Mia! I Have a Dream. At the time, Ball was the host of the program, while Weekes was responsible for set design. Weekes has worked on programs including The Traitors, Love Island, Squid Game: The Challenge, and won a 2021 BAFTA award for I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!.
What is the relationship between Zoe Ball and her ex-husband Norman Cook (Fatboy Slim)?
Ball and Norman Cook married in 1999, announced their separation in 2016, and have two children together, Woody and Nelly. The two have maintained a positive co-parenting relationship and live near each other in Brighton. Ball has stated that Cook’s parents (who divorced but remained friendly) were an “excellent inspiration” for their co-parenting model, and that the two families “have a very good relationship”.
What happened to Zoe Ball’s late partner Billy Yates?
Billy Yates was a photographer for Antiques Roadshow who began dating Ball in early 2017 following her separation from Cook. Yates, 40, died by suicide in May 2017 while battling depression. Ball has since been committed to mental health advocacy and frequently pays tribute to him on social media on the anniversary of his death, writing in 2025: “Forever in our hearts”.
