Zoe Ball’s boyfriend Billy Yates, 40, found dead at his South London home leaving the Strictly star ‘utterly devastated’
The 46-year-old was dating Billy after her split from husband Norman Cook in September
ZOE Ball’s boyfriend was found dead in his South London home last night, leaving the radio presenter devastated.
Strictly Come Dancing presenter Zoe, 46, was madly in love with Antiques Roadshow cameraman Billy Yates, 40, who she started dating after her marriage to DJ Norman Cook broke down.
Zoe found love with Billy after splitting with husband Norman Cook last year
The star posted an image of a flower on Instagram earlier today with the caption: “My sweet love X.”
A close friend said: “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 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.”
A Metropolitan Police spokesman confirmed: “Police were called to a residential address in Putney, South London, at 18.40 on Thursday 4th May to reports of a man found deceased.
“Officers attended alongside staff from the London Ambulance Service, and a man believed to be aged 40 was pronounced dead at the scene.
“The circumstances are not being treated as suspicious, and the coroner has been informed.”
Earlier this week, Strictly Come Dancing spin-off host Zoe gushed about the romance, which came after the breakdown of her 18 year relationship with Norman Cook.
Zoe, who was speaking at a Standard Issue magazine event, admitted she was having “one last hurrah” before hitting the menopause.
The mum-of-two said: “The best thing about getting older is big pants and comfortable shoes. These were from M&S.
“I am starting to embrace the older age thing. You just stop caring about stuff so much which is nice.
“I have had a bit of a year of self-discovery.”
Zoe split from Norman eight months after she was seen kissing 23-year-old boyband singer Tay Tay Starhz in a London nightclub, though it’s thought their marriage had been having difficulties for some time.
Zoe’s last Tweet was a retweet from Samaritans which read: If it really doesn’t feel like the force is with you today, we’re here and ready to listen