Zoe Ball opens up on her ‘lover’ and reveals what she finds ‘sexy’

Zoe Ball opened up on her ‘lover’ and revealed what she finds ‘sexy’ about her partner – just weeks after confirming she’s moved a mystery man into her home. 

The radio host, 55, who previously referred to him as ‘The Lodger’ admitted what she misses about him when he’s away. 

While she mentioned a mystery man, it is not yet known the status of their relationship. Her last public relationship was with construction worker Michael Reed, which ended in 2023. 

Speaking on her Dig It podcast with her co-host Jo Whiley, Zoe said: ‘Sniffing pits is sexy though.

‘I’ve often had this thing, when I’ve been sort of dating someone, I love smelling their armpits.’

‘I know it sounds weird, but if you love someone, you’ve got to love all their smells, not necessarily their bathroom smells. I draw a line at that. But there’s something about armpit smells that I think are really sexy.’ 

She continued: ‘My favourite thing to often do is sometimes, especially if I’ve not seen my lover for a while, is when they’ve got their arms around you, I’m like sniffing in the armpits, and I get a right old look. I’m like, I like that smell. It’s a good smell.

‘Do you remember doing that thing when you were dating someone, you were young, borrowing their clothes? 

‘I know my kids borrow their partner’s clothes to keep them because they smell of them, which is really lovely.

‘I have a thing that if my partner goes away, I don’t like to wash the bed until they get back. A, because I’m worried they might not come back, and B, I love the smell. I love the smell of them on the pillows.

‘I really love that. I remember also being a teenager and spraying Kuros or whatever it was, Paco Rabanne. I love the smells. That is always a sign. 

‘If you go off someone, you know you’ve gone off them if they suddenly, the smells you used to love about them starts to smell a bit funky. You’re like, nah, it’s gone.

‘It’s gone because you got to love all their smells.’

Zoe previously revealed she had moved a mystery man into her home and that he has ‘more awards than her’.

Discussing Christmas gifts with co-host Jo, Zoe recalled a moment the mystery man caught her using a massage brush.

She said: ‘I’ve got this thing that I bought online, which is sort of like you hold the handle and it’s loads and loads of different bits of wood and you whack your legs and your underarms with it.

‘And it really helps circulation. I think it’s quite good for lymphatic drainage. And I bought loads of them for people for Christmas.

‘I bet you all my friends don’t use them either. But it’s upstairs gathering dust and I’m going to get that out and I’m going to thwack my legs with it.

‘I remember the first time the lodger walked in and saw me doing it, and just sort of turned on his heels.’

Jo then asked: ‘And he’s still around. He’s still in your life?’ 

‘He’s still here at the moment. He’s still lodging,’ replied Zoe.

While the presenter did not reveal the name of her lodger, she explained how he has more awards than her.

Speaking about her awards stash at home, she said: ‘I think I got a Sony for turning up, which is very nice.

‘No, I did get a Sony and it was given to me by Marianne Faithfull. I was well chuffed, really chuffed. And I think Caner of the Year for something I can’t remember.

‘We won a BAFTA for the last ever Live and Kicking, which was amazing. But I don’t even have a copy of it. 

‘I need to get one and put it on the… Yeah, the lodger has won loads of awards…. I need to up my…’

Jo added: ‘Well, you need to get these awards (lodger) and put them on behind you now on the mantelpieces around you. Steal them. That’s fine.’

Zoe joked: ‘Yeah. Maybe I’ll just stop making myself some.’

The Daily Mail has contacted Zoe’s representative for further comment.