Zoe Ball’s daughter Nelly had no interest in backing her mum’s debut on BBC Radio 2 as she snubbed the show in a bid to listen to BBC Radio 1’s Greg James.
The nine-year-old proved she is every bit the loyal Radio 1 supporter as she called into the show as Star Listener, despite it being her mum’s first time on air over on Radio 2.
Speaking about Nelly being an avid supporter of his show, James told listeners: "Our wonderful friend Zoe Ball is starting a brand new breakfast show over in Radio 2 and she's going to be brilliant.
"When she announced the news a few months ago she said ‘Nelly my daughter, she listens to Greg’, I said to her, ‘will you listen to mummy?’
"She said, ‘I'll probably listen to Greg but if he plays a bad record mummy I'll probably listen to you to see if you're ok.’”
Calling the nine-year-old on her birthday, James quizzed: “Nelly which show did you listen to today?”
Nelly replied: “Radio 1.”
James added: “Aww, not even at 6:30am to hear your mum’s first link?”
To which Nelly bluntly said: “No.”
An impressed James smugly concluded: “Radio 1 through and through Nelly. It sounds like I have asked you to say that but I didn't.”
He then promised to send the youngster a selection of Radio 1 branded merchandise including a top, mug and phone case, encouraging her to wear and use them when she’s out and about with her mum.
Despite her nerves, Ball was met with widespread praise as she became the station’s first female weekday breakfast host, taking over from Chris Evans after he stepped down in December.
