Zoe Ball posts emotional tribute to late Radio 1 colleague Simon Willis

Zoe Ball has led tributes to a much-loved Radio 1 producer, Simon Willis, who died on Tuesday evening.

Simon had been battling most cancers for 3 years, tragically succumbing to the illness aged 50.

Zoe, 50, took to social media to submit an emotional tribute to Simon, whom she labored with at Radio 1 from 1998.

Alongside photographs of them collectively, she penned: ‘Heartbroken to listen to our expensive pal Willy, Simon Willis from our Radio 1 Breakfast Present workforce, handed away final evening.

‘He’d been poorly for a while. He was the naughtiest, daftest expensive chap, deliciously hilarious, the perfect raconteur and a complete pleasure to work with and certainly play with.

‘He took us on some wild fantastic adventures with the present, oh the tales. The Oscars, ski journeys, the Euros, The Brits. Perpetually in our hearts Showbiz Willis. The perfect of the perfect Child [sic]’

Zoe was the primary ever girl to host the Radio 1 Breakfast Present, with Simon instrumental in it. 

Colleague Scott Mills wrote beneath the submit: ‘So unhappy. An excellent, hilarious, beautiful man. I might not be at Radio 1 if it wasn’t for Simon. The easiest!’

Jo Whiley wrote the same tribute to Simon, posting: ‘We woke to the information that we’ve got misplaced our beloved Willy aka Simon Willis and in the present day our household is bereft.

You might say there have been three of us in our marriage. And it was the proper recipe. Me. My husband Steve and Willy. He was my Physician Who husband, we each cherished musical theatre with a ardour and collectively we have been full radio geeks.

‘Steve and Willy have been like Morecambe and Clever besides I used to be by no means certain which was which. I believe they have been each Eric. Their love for one another was plain for all to see and I’ve by no means seen two pals snicker collectively greater than them.

‘Willy was The Godfather to all our youngsters they usually fully and completely adored him. We have been blessed to have spent many many valuable moments with him all through our lives collectively and within the current months and weeks when he was poorly.

‘He celebrated his thirtieth/fortieth and fiftieth birthday at our dwelling and we had a ridiculous quantity of enjoyable. I by no means did met anybody who knew Nik Kershaw’s again catalogue like Willy.

‘Willy was a one-off. The funniest man you possibly can ever meet and anybody who knew him may have their very own favorite story to inform about ‘What Willy did…’ Godammit Willy… what are we going to do with out you??’