Zoe Ball’s family life is changing—and it seems her daughter Nelly, 16, has chosen to spend more time with her dad, Norman Cook, aka Fatboy Slim. Reports suggest the teenager may have moved out after feeling “left out” as her mum dived headfirst into a new romance.
The 55-year-old radio star has been secretly dating TV producer Mat Weekes for over a year, and sources say she’s “all in” with the relationship. “Zoe always gives her all when a new man comes into her life,” an insider told Mail Online. “It’s possible Nelly felt left out or didn’t really like the change.”
Some reports hint that Nelly’s decision to stay with Norman could also be linked to Zoe’s famously “scatty and chaotic” lifestyle, with the source adding: “Norman is calm, steady—a safe pair of hands. The kids love their mum, and she loves them too, but Norman provides a calm port in the storm.”
Speaking on her Dig It podcast this week, Zoe opened up about life in an “empty nest”: “It’s so quiet at home now. Nelly is more at her dad’s, and it’s nice for her to have one place to focus. All her revision notes are there, so she’s just settled in.” She added, “It’s great because he lives around the corner. I can pop by anytime, and if she needs me, I’m there—but it’s becoming less about moving house to house.”
Zoe and Norman married in 1999 after meeting in Ibiza and welcomed son Woody, 25, and daughter Nelly. The pair divorced in 2016, and while Woody is now living and DJing in Bristol, Nelly is preparing for her GCSEs in Sussex.
Zoe’s new relationship with Mat Weekes, 49, seems to be bringing stability and happiness. A source told The Sun: “Zoe has had a turbulent couple of years, but Mat has been a real source of strength. They are completely in love and live a quiet, happy life together.”
Mat, a BAFTA-winning production designer, runs Bizibot Productions, creating sets for shows like I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! and Love Island. Fans of Zoe will no doubt be watching closely as the radio star balances love, family, and her career while navigating the joys and challenges of parenthood.
