Tanya Sweeney: Zoe Ball's critics have no idea what the death of a ...

It’s being described in some quarters of the press as a “mysterious” six-week absence. But given that Zoe Ball is in the midst of grief, taking six weeks from work shouldn’t be any mystery at all.

When the broadcaster’s mother Julia Peckham (pictured below) died of pancreatic cancer back in April, Ball was back in front of the radio mic within the month, despite bosses allegedly telling her to take all the time she needed.