The family of Zoe Ball’s boyfriend have spoken out for the first time since his tragic death.
The father of cameraman Billy Yates has spoken after he was found dead in his home in Putney on Thursday.
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“We’re just devastated, thank you,” David, 72, of Darwen, Lancashire told the Mirror when they asked for a comment.
Zoe Ball is yet to speak publicly though posted a picture of a beautiful pink flower on Instagram accompanied by the message “My Sweet Love X.”
The couple got together just months after Zoe split from husband Norman Cook and friends and family have said that Billy had given Zoe a new lease of life.
Her father Johnny Ball had gushed: “We are very happy that she is finding a new lease of life. She is very happy at the moment, she really is, and that is lovely.”
Billy’s ex-girlfriend Molly Johnson also thought the pair made a fine couple.
“It’s all lovely and fabulous,” she told the Sunday Mirror. “I hope they’re very happy. He is a dear, dear friend, my whole family just adore him.
“All that matters to us is that he’s happy.
“He’s a really, properly brilliant man, and I’m keeping my fingers crossed for him.
“I wish the very best for him.”
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It’s believed that Billy took his own life and it has been reported that he has lived with depression.
His last Twitter comment – posted last year – praised a book he had just read which told a story about how to “really learn to live” and commented that it had shown his some “reasons to stay alive”
So moved was he by the book, he wrote directly to the author.
“@matthaig1 Reasons to stay alive, I don’t know what else to say but, read it, read it READ IT!!!!!!!!!! [sic]”
Meanwhile on the day of his death, Zoe retweeted a post from the Samaritans charity which read:
“If it really doesn’t feel like the force is with you today, we’re here and ready to listen TalkToUs 116123 MayTheFourthBeWithYou,” the post states.