ZOE BALL DESCRIBES ANXIETY AND LONDON ROAD RAGE INCIDENT

Zoe Ball has said she is experiencing "terrible anxiety" and panic attacks, and described a "violent and violating" road rage incident involving a cyclist in London. Speaking on her Dig It with Zoe Ball and Jo Whiley podcast, the former BBC Radio 2 breakfast presenter told Jo Whiley the cyclist punched her windscreen during the confrontation. Ball said she had reduced her coffee intake after linking caffeine to a recent return of panic attacks following a long period without them. "I have really bad anxiety and it's been terrible recently. I was having panic attacks a little bit at the weekend again which I haven't had for a long time," she said.

Ball said she did not know the cause of the renewed anxiety, suggesting it might be "hormone related" since nothing in her life had changed. She said she now drinks decaffeinated coffee later in the day to help manage the symptoms, adding that doing so "really does help". Describing the road rage incident, she said navigating London traffic as a driver can feel like "carnage", citing cyclists not stopping at lights and vehicles approaching from multiple directions. She said the cyclist could see her car slowing down and moving over before he punched her windscreen, an act she called "really violent".

Ball said such confrontations leave her feeling "a bit edgy" afterwards. She did not specify when or where in London the incident took place, nor whether she reported it to police. She has also spoken previously about becoming upset at her children leaving home. No further details on the cyclist or any follow-up action were given on the podcast.