Zoe Ball is going on a bike ride. A long bike ride, 355 miles, from Blackpool, where she was born, to Brighton where she lives. And it’s going to be tough. You see, Zoe doesn’t do much cycling. And it is going to emotional: this is a bike ride with a mission, and a message. In May 2016, Zoe’s partner Billy Yates killed himself after a long struggle with depression. Zoe’s ride is for Sport Relief, to raise money and increase awareness about depression and suicide. The figures are bleak: 6,000 suicides a year in the UK, the biggest killer of men under 45 (men are three times more likely to kill themselves than women).
It’s grey and wet when Zoe sets off from Blackpool, and that’s the way the weather seems to stay for the entire five days. She is by no means alone; she has got Greg her trainer with her to encourage her up the hills and help her back on the bike when she falls off. And there’s a TV crew, of course, and vans with back up people and equipment. It’s quite a convoy, travelling along at Zoe speed, and quite a tailback of cars behind. You wouldn’t want to be stuck in that – until you knew what it was about and then hopefully you wouldn’t mind.
Along the way she meets up with well-wishers and celebrities. There’s John Bishop, who has done one of these hellish challenges for charity. The Strictly dancers surprise her in Stratford-on-Avon. Fearne Cotton joins in for a few miles and drops the tone down a gear or two. “Already my lady bits have gone a bit numb,” she says.
More poignantly, Zoe meets other people who have been affected by depression and suicide, such as Penny, whose 18-year-old son Jamie killed himself, and who then helped found the Tomorrow Project. It’s part of Harmless, an organisation that offers help for bereaved families and those at risk of suicide. That’s Tomorrow as in there can be one. “Suicide is really cruel, because you feel like there’s so much you should have been able to do,” Zoe tells her.
Hundreds of primary school children come out of their schools to cheer on Zoe as she pedals slowly past. I hope their teachers are explaining what she’s doing and why. And she’s got Billy with her, in her thoughts and in her heart. “He’s there, he’s with me,” she says.
After a final painful push – over Devil’s Dyke – she makes it to Brighton. Now text Zoe to 70210 to donate a tenner. Make that 70220 if you’ve got a job or you’re not a student or feel like donating £20.
The Secret Helpers (BBC Two) is an odd one. Dan, an affable young man from Norfolk, recently had a double stroke that left him blind and barely able to walk. The sight and most of the motion returned, but he is chronically tired the whole time and it’s touch and go whether he will make it through his upcoming wedding to Suzy.
Could the answer to his troubles come in the guise of wise words, whispered in his ear, from kind strangers around the world? Oh, course it could! Dan gets an earpiece and away we go. So from Norway, Lillian – formerly a Playboy bunny and now a new age diet consultant and nutritionist type – gives him a breathing exercise and tells him to get dried figs and dates to boost his energy levels, even though Dan hates dried fruit. New York cop couple Mark and Joe have some advice about Dan’s wedding speech, telling him it should come from the heart, that he should tell her how important she is to him. From Ireland, Sister Oona gives him a blessing. Gwen and Elisa in South Africa advise him to slow down.
To be honest, I could have given him the same advice, minus the breathing and the blessing. But that’s not the point; it’s about different perspectives and the kindness of strangers and reaching out a helping hand across the world. After Dan, our international sages are advising Brett, who is learning how to be a first-time father to twins.
As television it’s a bit of a dog’s dinner. Suzy and Jess, Brett’s wife, think there’s a documentary being made, hence the cameras. Are the sages sitting through Dan and Brett’s lives in real time, or getting highlights? I was confused about the mechanics. And then, when they speak, our Brits in peril often can’t reply because they are with people and it would give the game away. The advice itself is ordinary, there’s no satisfactory reveal, no moment of discovery … no, it’s a mess, an ambitious idea that doesn’t appear to have been properly thought through. Even if the ideas behind it are nice ones.
Zoe Ball embarks on a 300-mile cycle ride from Blackpool to Brighton for Sport Relief; a double bill concludes the current series of the skilful social services sitcom. Plus, Make! Craft Britain
Zoe Ball’s Hardest Road Home
9pm, BBC One
Over five gruelling days, Zoe Ball, despite having very little cycling experience, shows herself to be a bona fide trooper by embarking on a 300-mile cycle from Blackpool, the place of her birth, all the way to Brighton, her home town. Not put off by dreaded hills, treacherous terrain or adverse weather (luckily there was no “beast from the east” to halt proceedings), this challenge to raise money for Sport Relief takes Zoe through historic towns and iconic sights; an excuse to pop off the bike for some well-needed rest. Candice Carty-Williams
The Secret Helpers
8pm, BBC Two
A slightly odd new series in which people facing challenging moments in their lives don earpieces and submit to the advice of friendly strangers from South Africa to New York. Tonight, Dan prepares for his wedding while coping with the aftermath of a stroke, and Brett learns all about modern fatherhood. Phil Harrison
The Assassination of Gianni Versace
9pm, BBC Two
The horror continues in Ryan Murphy’s lurid and disjointed retelling of Andrew Cunanan’s killing spree in 1997. Following his nauseating torture and murder of Lee Miglin, we join the story a week earlier in Minneapolis, where Cunanan started on his journey towards grotesque infamy. Ben Arnold
Make! Craft Britain
9pm, BBC Four
“Do I have a shepherd here?” Welcome to a fine slice of therapeutic TV, in which expert crafters give workshops that are detailed enough to school viewers as well as participants. If you’ve always wanted to try your hand at rug-making, letterpress printmaking or folding origami lilies, this show is for you. Hannah Verdier
Damned
10pm, Channel 4
The series concludes on a double bill with change looming large at Elm Heath social services. Al plans to swap social services for some Scottish serenity, Martin confronts Mimi about their living arrangements and Rose vows to change the lives of some children undergoing sinister homeschooling. Mark Gibbings-Jones
Bliss
10pm, Sky1
The final episode of the double-life dramedy is all blind panic, as Andrew (Stephen Mangan) tries everything to stop his son visiting the house of his secret other family. In less skilful hands than Mangan’s this scenario might be too absurd or just too stressful and unpleasant, but somehow he gets you to buy in. Jack Seale
Film choice
Eyes Without a Face (Georges Franju, 1960) 1.40am, Film4
Psycho, Peeping Tom – 1960 was quite a year for artful horror, and Georges Franju’s lyrical, gory tale is every bit their equal. Pierre Brasseur’s obsessive surgeon reconstructs his daughter’s missing face with features scalpelled from other, murdered young women; a grotesque, borderline-surreal atmosphere pervades. Paul Howlett
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Anne Hathaway and Jake Gyllenhaal in Love & Other Drugs. Photograph: Sportsphoto Ltd/Allstar/New Regency Pictures
Love & Other Drugs (Edward Zwick, 2010) 1.25am, Channel 4
Edward Zwick’s fact-based drama is part-romcom, part-assault on big pharma, a bipolar project that just about comes off. It’s the mid-90s and Jake Gyllenhaal’s Jamie is a womanising Viagra salesman – then he falls for Maggie (Anne Hathaway), who is harbouring a secret that drugs can’t help. PH
Live sport
Cycling: Tour of Catalunya Stage three of the road race. 2.45pm, Eurosport 1
Tennis: The Miami Open The opening day at the Tennis Centre at Crandon Park. 3pm, Sky Sports Main Event
Test Cricket: New Zealand v England England’s seemingly never-ending tour begins its concluding leg at Auckland. 12.30am, Sky Sports Main Event
ZOE Ball is still a major part of our TV schedules - more than twenty years on from first coming to prominence on Live & Kicking.
The Strictly: It Takes Two host is always a big hit on the box - here is the story of her career so far.
PA:Press Association Zoe Ball is the host of Strictly: It Takes Two
Who is Zoe Ball and how old is she?
Zoe Ball is a 47-year-old TV presenter and radio star, having become the first female host of The Radio 1 Breakfast Show in 1998.
She also co-hosted the classic Saturday morning kids TV show, Live & Kicking, with Jamie Theakston from 1996 until 1999.
She appeared on series three of Strictly Come Dancing in 2005, finishing in third place, and took over the spin-off show - It Takes Two - in 2011.
Her dad is popular TV star Johnny Ball, who was a regular fixture in the 1970s and 80s on shows including Think of a Number and Play School.
Zoe was married to Norman Cook - aka Fatboy Slim - from 1999 until they separated in 2016.
They have two children together, son Woody and daughter Nelly.
If you're interested in how tall Zoe is, she clocks in at 1.78m - that's 5 feet 10 inches.
Getty Images Zoe's dad is kids TV favourite Johnny Ball
Who's her ex-husband, Norman Cook?
Zoe was married to DJ and musician Norman Cook - AKA Fatboy Slim - up until 2016.
Norman shot to fame in the 1980s as the bassist of the indie rock band The Housemartins. When the band split in 1988, he formed Beats International, who are best known for the track Dub Be Good to Me. He started calling himself Fatboy Slim in 1996, and released Better Living Through Chemistry to critical acclaim.
He’s best known for the songs Praise You, Right Here, Right Now, The Rockafeller Skank and Weapon of Choice.
Rex Features Norman Cook is Zoe Ball's ex-husband
When did Zoe Ball and Norman Cook first get together?
Zoe started dating Norman while she was working at Radio 1 in the late '90s.
They married in 1999, but the marriage was rocked in 2003 when Zoe admitted she had had an affair with one of her husband's close friends, DJ Dan Peppe - but they later reconciled.
Zoe then hit the headlines again in 2015 when she was pictured snogging boyband member Tay Tay Starhz, 22, at a Christmas party.
The couple - who raise a son and daughter together - battled on, but in September last 2016, they announced their separation after 18 years of marriage.
Alamy Zoe was married to DJ Fatboy Slim - Norman Cook - for 18 years until 2016
Who was her boyfriend Billy Yates?
Zoe found love with a new man, Antiques Roadshow crew member, Billy Yates in 2015.
However, the cameraman, 40, was tragically found dead in his Putney home on May 4, 2016, leaving Zoe overcome with grief.
She was known to have been head over heels with Billy, with her dad Johnny previously saying that his daughter was "very happy" which he described as "lovely".
Following the news, Zoe took a break from her BBC Radio 2 show, with Kate Thornton stepping in.
Fame Flynet Zoe found love with a new man, Antiques Roadshow crew member, Billy Yates last September
Who is Zoe Ball's new 'boyfriend' Michael Reed? Michael Reed, 47, is romancing Zoe Ball. The 47-year-old lives in Kent and works as a construction firm boss. Friends of the star say handsome Michael has put a smile back on her face after months of heartbreak. A showbiz insider said: “It is great to see Zoe with a spring in her step — smiling and enjoying life again.“She has had a tough time of it this year so deserves some happiness. “It is early days with Michael but Zoe seems quite taken with him. She left her girlfriends to go and meet him so that shows how keen she is. “Michael is a charismatic guy and very handsome, so it is not hard to see the attraction. He is also not in showbiz, so hopefully, that might make any relationship easier.”
ZOE Ball was left devastated by the death of her boyfriend Billy Yates.
As the star said her final goodbye to him last year, following a quiet and intimate funeral, we look back at the life of the cameraman that won over Zoe's heart...
Fame Flynet Billy died at the age of 40 in his home
Who was Billy Yates?
Billy Yates was a 40-year-old cameraman and technician who worked mostly with television programmes.
The star had worked in the industry for the past ten years.
He worked on the Antiques Roadshow, The Xtra Factor and Famous and Fearless.
Billy was also part of the production team behind short film comedy Total Awesome Viking Power in 2015.
Fame Flynet The couple started dating after Zoe Ball's marriage to Fatboy Slim ended
When did Billy Yates and Zoe Ball begin dating?
Billy Yates and Zoe Ball were first pictured together back in February 2017.
They began dating after Zoe split up with DJ Fatboy Slim.
Zoe’s telly star dad Johnny Ball told the Mirror at the time: “We are very happy that she is finding a new lease on life.
“She is very happy at the moment, and that is lovely.”
Strictly Come Dancing presenter Zoe was madly in love with the 40-year-old.
Just days before Billy's death, she had gushed about the romance, admitting she was enjoying “one last hurrah” before hitting the menopause.
Instagram Following the funeral, Zoe posted a heartfelt goodbye to her other half
How did Billy Yates die?
The Sun revealed the tragic news that Billy had been found dead at his home in Putney, south London on May 4.
Friends said at the time Zoe was overwhelmed by grief and shocked.
A close friend told The Sun: “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.
“This was completely out of the blue. She had no feeling that this was coming and is in total shock.
“As far as we know this occurred at his house in north London and it was friends who raised the alarm.
“She’s going to need a lot of time to grieve.
“This just feels so unfair because Zoe had finally found happiness with Billy and had so many exciting plans for their future.
“It’s devastating. There’s nothing else other than devastation today.”
Fame Flynet Zoe was left heartbroken after Billy Yates' death
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What troubles did Billy Yates have?
A source close to Billy claimed the cameraman suffered from depression.
They also told The Sun he was left stressed when he received an "unexpected tax bill" after using convicted accountant Christopher Lunn.
Lunn was jailed for five years in 2016 — leaving many clients with huge bills.
After he was sentenced the HMRC said: “This investigation has already recovered £20million as Lunn’s former clients settle their tax liabilities, with more to come.”
It is understood the financial issues added to Billy’s emotional state.
Speaking about his death, Zoe told the Radio Times: "Even now I sometimes think, ‘I’m a resourceful woman, I’m a bright woman. . . why could I not save him?’
“And then I have to stop and say, ‘Everyone who loved him knew. None of us found an answer, none of us saved him’.
“To move forward you have to accept that. Which is very difficult.”
She will explore the reasons for suicide in BBC One’s Zoe’s Hardest Road Home on March 21.
If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, the Samaritans can be contacted on 020 7734 2800
