Strictly Zoe’s agony
Friends tell of shock at tragedy Neighbours say Billy seemed carefree
Zoe Ball’s new lover Billy Yates dies in suspected suicide, aged just 40
ZOE Ball has been left devastated by the suspected suicide of boyfriend Billy Yates.
Paramedics found the 40-year-old TV cameraman’s body at his flat in London.
Radio star Zoe tweeted a photo of a rose and wrote “My sweet love” in tribute to her boyfriend, who had worked on Antiques Roadshow and The Xtra Factor.
Her friends last night told how Billy had helped get Zoe’s life back on track after the break up of her marriage to DJ Norman Cook.
A close pal added: “Zoe is overcome with grief. She is completely and utterly devastated. Billy had made her happy again after the most horrendous year when her marriage broke down.”
Police and paramedics found Billy’s body at his flat after a suspected suicide. It was claimed he had suffered from depression in the past.
Mum-of-two Zoe, 46, split from Norman – aka Fatboy Slim – in September.
A source close to her said: “It’s been a total shock that seemed to come out of nowhere.
“Zoe is devastated and is trying to get her head around it but she’s very delicate.
“She’s had a terrible year, and it seemed she had finally got her head straight and everything was going well. She was in a really good place.
“Now, the unimaginable has happened. This is going to be very hard for her to deal with. She has a close knit circle of friends rallying around her, offering their support.
“Her mum Julia rushed to her side to be with her. There has been an outpouring of love from those closest to her.”
Billy’s sister Katharine McKee posted on Facebook: “Absolutely heartbroken that my wonderful brother has gone.”
His other sister Geraldine Isherwood also wrote: “We are devastated.”
Billy’s dad David, 72, answered the door at his home in Darwen, Lancashire, yesterday, but said only: “We’re just devastated, thank you.”
Zoe reportedly split from Norman amid escalating rows over her nights out. She was spotted apparently kissing boyband member TayTay Starhz, 23, in a nightclub last year. Zoe had been due to present her Radio 2 show today but has been replaced by Kate Thornton because she was too upset to go on air. Billy was found at his flat in Putney, south-west London, on Thursday night after a devastated friend alerted police. Officers said the death is not being treated as suspicious. Sources claimed he had suffered mental health issues. Zoe, who started dating him four months ago, had recently followed the Twitter accounts of Depression Awareness and Anxiety UK.
After his death, she retweeted a message from the Samaritans which said: “If it really doesn’t feel like the force is with you today, we’re here and ready to listen. TalkToUs.”
Billy was last seen out around lunchtime on Thursday going to a local shop before heading back to his second floor flat, where he is thought to have spent the day alone.
Neighbours told of their shock at his death but insisted he had not been showing any signs of depression lately. One said: “He popped into the shop downstairs and bought a fizzy drink at around midday. We chatted and laughed a bit. He seemed like his normal cheerful and happy self.
“When I first heard he was dead my heart was broken. There was no indication he was depressed at all. He was always cheerful and playing his music. It’s just very, very sad.”
Billy’s landlord and friend Atul Patel said of his suspected suicide: “I can never imagine someone like him doing this. He was a very happy, down to earth guy.
“When I would go around we would sit in his flat and have a couple of wines. There was absolutely nothing that could indicate
something like this. I arrived at the flat at about 6.45pm and saw police going upstairs. I found out later what had happened. It seems totally out of character.
“I hadn’t seen him in the past three or four months so unless something’s happened in that time to change him. It’s so sad and he really will be missed.”
On Monday night, Zoe had spoken about feeling happy with her life and had vowed to have a lot of sex as she approached the age of menopause.
She told her radio listeners: “I’m menopausal. I’m hot and hairy. It is like my last hurrah. Is it going to get better? Do I do HRT or do I have the funny tea? This is the quandary. Have more sex? I have just left my marriage. OK, that is a good tip. HRT and more sex. I will take that”
Zoe once said she is “starting to embrace the older age thing”.
She added: “You just stop caring about stuff so much which is nice. I have had a bit of a year. I’ve had a bit of a year of selfdiscovery.”
A Met Police spokesman confirmed Billy’s death yesterday morning.
He added: “Officers attended an address alongside London Ambulance Service staff, and a man believed to be aged 40 was pronounced dead. The coroner has been informed.”