Who was Zoe Ball’s partner Michael Reed?
RADIO and telly star Zoe Ball has split from her long-term lover.
Her five-and-a-half year relationship with model Michael Reed had “run its course”, pals said.
Who is Michael Reed? What is his background?
It was The Sun who exclusively revealed that the Strictly: It Takes Two host was enjoying her "first romance" since lover Billy Yates’ tragic death in 2017, but her romance with the construction boss has now come to an end.
Michael hit the headlines after he was first seen enjoying a very cosy and intimate night out in London with Zoe Ball in December 2017.
The Sun exclusively revealed the Strictly It Takes Two star had enjoyed a romantic evening out with Michael.
The two were seen laughing and smiling as they soaked up the atmosphere at a club in Soho, London.
Michael and Zoe then left the club and headed to a swanky hotel in the trendy area.
Details about him were being kept closely under wraps, but we do know he lives in Kent.
We also know that he's a construction firm boss.
What do we know about Michael's relationship with Zoe Ball?
Zoe, 52, and Michael were spotted at a late-night club in London’s Soho on December 7, 2017, before heading together to a nearby hotel.
The TV and radio star was left devastated by the suicide of her TV cameraman boyfriend Billy Yates, in May 2017.
Friends of the star said handsome Michael put a smile back on her face after months of heartbreak at the time.
When they first got together, a showbiz insider said: “It is great to see Zoe with a spring in her step — smiling and enjoying life again.
“She has had a tough time of it this year so deserves some happiness.
“It is early days with Michael but Zoe seems quite taken with him. She left her girlfriends to go and meet him so that shows how keen she is.
“Michael is a charismatic guy and very handsome, so it is not hard to see the attraction.
"He is also not in showbiz, so hopefully, that might make any relationship easier.”
The couple made their first official red carpet appearance together in December 2018.
And since then, they were spotted holding hands as they walked around the shops in Brighton.
Though besides a few public appearances together the couple kept a low profile.
What has been said about Michael?
The Sun exclusively revealed that pals of his ex were warning Zoe to be wary of her new man.
It's claimed Michael has dated a string of beauties before getting together with the TV fave.
Among them is Lorraine Ashdown, a TV and radio presenter and announcer who has worked for Radio 1.
Lorraine has mutual friends with Zoe who are said to have spoken to her about him.
A friend of Lorraine said: "He certainly has a type and he also has a reputation."
“He tends to ‘lovebomb’ women and chats them up online and in person."
After splitting from Lorraine, Reed had a romance with businesswoman Hannah Maynard who lives in a £1.5million home near him in Chislehurst, Kent.
A source close to Hannah said: "She got solicitors involved when it all went wrong - it was over texts and she wanted to stop Reed contacting her."
Why did Zoe and Michael split?
A source close to the star said: “Zoe is gutted but she’s better off without Michael.
“This is a relief to many of her friends, who think she has done the right thing.
“They were arguing over really silly things like Zoe spending time on the phone to her friends and it all got a bit too much for her.
“They had a wonderful romance at first and Michael was a real gent.
"But in recent months Zoe has started to find him a bit demanding.
“They then started spending a lot less time together, went away on separate holidays and drifted apart.
“Now it seems the relationship has finally run its course. She asked him to move out and he has done so, although they have remained on good terms.
"Hopefully, Zoe will move on and find the happiness she deserves.”
Fans of BBC Radio 2 presenter Zoe, 52, noticed Michael, also 52, was no longer in her social media posts.
More on Zoe Ball
Who is Zoe Ball?
Zoe Ball is a TV presenter and radio star, having become the first female host of The Radio 1 Breakfast Show in 1998.
Her dad is the popular TV star Johnny Ball, who was a regular fixture in the 1970s and 80s on shows including Think of a Number and Play School.
Zoe was married to Norman Cook – aka Fatboy Slim – from 1999 until they separated in 2016.
They have two children together, son Woody, and daughter Nelly.
After their split she dated cameraman Billy Yates who tragically took his own life in 2017.