Zoe Ball’s son Woody Cook has revealed police are investigating a ‘stalker’ who repeatedly impersonated him online and discussed intimate details of his sex life with strangers.
The Celebrity Gogglebox star, 25, hit out at the ‘creepy’ individual who has been ‘catfishing’ unsuspecting victims by pretending to be him and engaging in shocking conversations about his private life.
Woody – whose father is music legend Fatboy Slim – revealed he has reported the stalker to police this week, prompting a formal investigation into the perpetrator, who he claims has terrorised him and others ‘more than 20 times’.
In an explosive series of Instagram stories, Woody branded the stalker’s behaviour ‘creepy, immoral and illegal’ while urging them to ‘get some therapeutic help’.
The disturbing campaign saw the catfish create fake profiles using Woody’s identity to contact multiple people online, engaging in deeply personal and intimate conversations while posing as him.
‘Just FYI Catfishing as someone and talking nonsense about their sex life to strangers is creepy, immoral and illegal,’ Woody wrote in one post.
Zoe Ball’s son Woody Cook has revealed police are investigating a ‘stalker’ who repeatedly impersonated him online and discussed intimate details of his sex life with strangers (Pictured in 2023)
In an explosive series of Instagram stories, Woody branded the stalker’s behaviour ‘creepy, immoral and illegal’ while urging them to ‘get some therapeutic help’
The stalker appears to have set up bogus accounts on social media platforms and messaging apps, tricking members of the public into believing they were genuinely chatting with the son of one of Britain’s most famous celebrity couples.
In another damning post, the DJ and TV star shared a screenshot exposing one of the impersonator’s messages, which read: ‘Hey man, hope I’m ok to hyu on here. Just been looking at your prints again, super talented!
‘Might have some artwork I’d like done for my festivals this year. Would you be interested? Woody x.’
Woody captioned it: ‘This is not me! Someone is pretending to be me. Please don’t fall for it! Super weird. It’s a stalker (And I will be making a police enquiry because he’s done this to me and other people 20+ times and I’m done being polite).’
A spokesperson for Woody told the Daily Mail: ‘We have been made aware that an individual has been contacting people online and claiming to be Woody.
‘We have reported this to the police, and an investigation is underway. As such, we are unable to provide any further comment.’
Woody has worked hard to step out of the shadow of his famous parents – radio queen Zoe, 55, and DJ icon Norman Cook, 62 – and forge his own path in the spotlight.
The star, who came out as bisexual during his stint on Channel 4 reality series The Circle in 2019, has become a champion for mental health awareness, LGBTQ+ rights and environmental causes, using his platform to speak out on issues close to his heart.
He’s carved out a successful career as a DJ, performing at the likes of Glastonbury, while also working as a presenter and public speaker. He also runs his own record label and media company, Truth Tribe – all while studying Film and Theatre at Bristol University.
The disturbing campaign saw the catfish create fake profiles using Woody’s identity to contact multiple people online
Woody has worked hard to step out of the shadow of his famous parents – radio queen Zoe, 55, and DJ icon Norman Cook, 62 (Pictured together in May 2025)
Elsewhere he has appeared alongside his beloved mum on Celebrity Gogglebox, with the pair becoming fan favourites for their hilarious commentary and touching mother-son bond.
But his latest brush with online harassment highlights a terrifying reality for anyone in the public eye – and the disturbing ease with which twisted individuals can weaponise social media.
Under current UK law, catfishing itself remains legal. The Malicious Communications Act 1988 and the Communications Act 2003 contain no specific provisions against online impersonation.
However, the sinister actions associated with catfishing can lead to serious criminal charges. Perpetrators can be prosecuted under the Fraud Act 2006 if they obtain money, the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, the Malicious Communications Act 1988, and strict data protection laws.
Campaigners have been fighting to make catfishing a specific criminal offence, with a petition launched in March this year calling for the law to recognise when ‘false identities are used to manipulate, exploit or cause harm online’.
A 2023 survey found that 22 per cent of UK adults have experienced catfishing, while separate research revealed over a quarter of dating website users have been tricked and scammed by fake profiles.
Instagram, where Woody’s impersonator has been targeting victims, has policies against impersonation and allows users to report fake accounts – but critics say the platform doesn’t act quickly enough to protect victims.
Woody’s parents Zoe and Norman split in 2016 after 18 years of marriage but have remained friends, even living next door to each other in Brighton for a time as they co-parent Woody and his younger sister Nelly, 15.
