Zoe Ball and Billy Yates: Star makes heartbreaking confession after Sport Relief tribute
ZOE BALL, who took on a Sports Relief challenge after losing her partner Billy Yates last year, has revealed that she still wonders whether she could have handled her late boyfriend’s struggle with depression differently.
Zoe Ball and Billy Yates: The star has opened up about the loss of her boyfriend
Zoe Ball opens up about late boyfriend's mental health issues
The 47-year-old took on a gruelling five-day cycling challenge in honour of her late boyfriend Billy last week.
The Hardest Road Home bike ride, saw her raise £500,000 for Sport Relief after she pedalled 350 miles from Blackpool to Brighton.
Looking back at his battles with depression, the Strictly Come Dancing It Takes Two presenter has now admitted that she wonders whether she “did the right thing”.
I look back and think, ‘I’m not sure I did the right thing.
In an interview with the Radio Times this week, Zoe said: “I tried my best to help. But I look back and think, ‘I’m not sure I did the right thing.”
Explaining that Billy didn’t speak about his depression at first, the TV presenter revealed that, when he did, the news didn’t come as a shock.
“I wasn’t surprised when he eventually told me. I could see there was some sadness,” she admitted.
Discussing whether she would want to handle anything differently looking back, the broadcaster went on: “You can’t just sit down with someone when they are that poorly and say, ‘I want to help.’
Zoe Ball and Billy Yates: The star has opened up about the loss of her boyfriend
Zoe Ball and Billy Yates: The BBC cameraman tragically took his own life last year
“There is no quick fix.”
Recalling Billy’s struggles, Zoe continued: “I’d say things like, ‘If you exercise, go outside, see someone you love, it might help.’
“But it didn’t. And the therapy he had didn’t even touch the sides.”
Zoe Ball and Billy Yates: The star told Twitter followers she was alright after falling off her bike
Zoe Ball takes first fall on Sport Relief bike ride
The star also explained that she’d felt quite emotional during her journey as she reflected on the loss of the cameraman.
Zoë Ball’s Hardest Road Home will air on Wednesday at 9pm on BBC One.
Sport Relief will air on Friday 23 at 7pm on BBC One.
The full interview can be seen in the latest issue of Radio Times, which is out now.