THE boyfriend of Zoe Ball who died last week had told a friend he “adored” the star.

Sophie Phelps, a friend of Billy Yates, said he “loved” her so much, The Mirror reported.

The cameraman, who had worked on the Antiques Roadshow and The Xtra Factor, was found dead in his London flat last Thursday.

Zoe is taking time off from her Radio 2 show following the tragedy and is with her family in Hove.