Zoe Ball and Jamie Oliver Reminisce on Radio Show About Oasis and the 90s

Zoe Ball, the well-known broadcaster, made her return to her Radio 2 Breakfast Show this Thursday after a six-week absence, hosting a lively segment with celebrity chef Jamie Oliver. During the program, the duo shared entertaining anecdotes from their memories of the 1990s, particularly focusing on their encounters with the famous British rock band, Oasis.

Ball, aged 53, and Oliver, 49, delved into their past experiences with the band’s members, recounting tales that included her ex-husband, Norman Cook—better known as Fatboy Slim—and his escapades with Noel Gallagher. “Those two would go disappearing together,” Ball recalled humorously, illustrating the mischievous antics of the era.

A notable story shared by Oliver involved an amusing incident from his stay in a flat adjacent to Noel Gallagher’s property. Reminiscing about the time, Oliver recounted “I accidentally set myself on fire with absinthe while visiting Noel.” This anecdote was met with laughter from Ball, who swore off the potent drink, saying, “I will never go near absinthe again.”

The conversation took a nostalgic turn with Jamie Oliver expressing his disappointment at being unable to obtain tickets for the much-anticipated Oasis reunion tour. The band, fronted by the Gallagher brothers, is set to perform 17 shows across major UK cities in 2025. “I tried, but no luck so far,” lamented Oliver, jokingly indicating he expected a “BBC allocation” through Ball’s influence.

Liam Gallagher‘s antics also provided material for the show. Ball recounted how Gallagher would taunt Oliver from outside his home, demanding a bacon sandwich, much to the chef’s frustration at trying to put his young children to sleep. “He said, ‘give us a bacon sarnie through the letterbox,'” Oliver chuckled, recounting the frequent occurrences.

The broadcast also touched on Ball’s recent absence due to personal circumstances, including the loss of her mother. Upon her return, she expressed gratitude towards her colleague Scott Mills, who covered her show during this time. Ball thanked the audience for their supportive messages, which she described as heartwarming.