Ball pulls out of show after boyfriend’s death

Zoe Ball, the presenter, pulled out of hosting her BBC Radio 2 afternoon show yesterday following the death of her boyfriend.

Billy Yates, 40, a cameraman, was discovered dead at his home in Putney, south London, on Thursday evening. Police are not treating his sudden death as suspicious.

Ms Ball, 46, is “devastated” at her lover’s death, her spokesman said.

Kate Thornton presented yesterday’s show. The Strictly Come Dancing presenter, who split from her husband of 18 years Norman Cook last year, has also stood aside from the show next weekend.