Norman Cook (aka Fatboy Slim) opened up about a proud family moment (Image: Getty)
Zoe Ball’s former partner, Norman Cook, has admitted that he’s “not ashamed to say I cried” while reflecting on a touching family milestone. Big beat pioneer Norman (better known by his DJ moniker, Fatboy Slim) was in a relationship with the former BBC Radio 2 presenter until 2016, and they share two children together, Woody and Nelly.
It appears Norman’s illustrious career as a dance music legend left quite the mark on young Woody Cook. Now 25, the television personality, who appeared in the 2019 series of The Circle, has carved out his own path as a DJ. Norman recalls his son’s initial introduction to the Ibiza club scene occurred at a tender age.
Speaking to Heart FM’s Toby Anstis in 2025, the Rockafeller Skank hitmaker disclosed that he would “sit in the corner of the DJ booth and play Lego”.
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Norman’s high-flying career as a dance icon seemingly made quite the impression on his son (Image: Getty Images)
His comments emerged as the duo discussed Café Mambo Ibiza, a renowned island establishment where Norman has performed.
Norman said: “I love Mambo. It’s… for me, like you said, it’s… you’re close enough to the crowd that you got proper communication. You got the people right on your shoulders that you can actually talk to because the music’s not that loud.”
He continued: “Woody, my son, grew up in that booth. Like, we used to take him down when he was like three. Cuz it was this…we couldn’t get a babysitter. And so, he would play Lego.
“He would sit in the corner of the DJ booth and play Lego. And then when he got to be six or seven, he could see out the top of the DJ booth. And then one day he went, “Dad, I can see why you like your job’.
“He said, ‘It’s really exciting. Like the music’s loud and everyone’s shouting at you’, he said. And so he kind of grew up. And then there was… There came a moment where my son played in Mambo, and I’m not ashamed to say I cried when my… when my son finally played.”
Norman was in a relationship with Zoe Ball until 2016 (Image: Getty Images)
This follows Norman recounting a “weird” encounter he shared with ex-wife Zoe in a hotel room. Back in October 2025, Norman revealed the story to Alan Carr on his travel-themed podcast, Life’s a Beach.
Alan pressed the music legend about his “best hotel experience”, urging him to spill the details on “everything”. He suggested it could involve “butler service” or perhaps even a “pillow menu”.
Norman recalled: “No, I’ve had weird ones where me and Zoe stayed at a place in Dubai, and there was our wedding photo was in a frame by the bed.”
He went on: “I think they were trying to make us feel at home, so they kinda Googled our wedding photo, printed one, put it in a frame, put it like…yeah, and one time…one time, I woke up and my name was embroidered on the pillow. Now that really threw me.”
Catch Fatboy Slim when he headlines Radio 1’s Big Weekend Sunderland on Friday (May 22) on BBC One, from 10:40pm to 11:40pm.