Zoe Ball has opened up about rediscovering her libido post-menopause – and the surprising role Harry Styles nearly played in her journey.
The 54-year-old BBC Radio 2 presenter, who co-hosts the Dig It podcast with fellow broadcaster Jo Whiley, revealed that she was intrigued by Styles’ latest venture: a sleek, double-ended vibrator launched through his lifestyle brand, Pleasing.
The device, which dropped alongside a companion lubricant, sold out almost instantly – much to Zoe’s dismay.
‘And I tell you what, if I could have bought one, I would have bought one and I would have given you a full report, but sadly you can’t buy them anymore!’ she told Jo with a laugh.
Zoe, who says she’s always had ‘lovely chats’ with the famously gracious singer, praised Styles’ business savvy and design eye.
‘He’s got this company, and they’ve brought out a sex toy—beautifully designed and very stylish, just like Harry himself. A friend of mine was disappointed it wasn’t shaped like his face!’
Her curiosity extended beyond her interest in the pop star.
After years of dealing with menopausal symptoms and a significant dip in libido, Zoe says things have started to shift – and her younger friends encouraged her to get back in the game.
‘They said, “Zoe, you need to get yourself this,”‘ she recalled. ‘And honestly, the world of sex toys has changed so much.’
She and Jo shared a few laughs over how to dispose of outdated devices (‘I didn’t put them in a skip!’ Zoe joked) and swapped tales of rogue toys flying out of knocked-over bins. But the conversation kept returning to Harry’s unexpected foray into sexual wellness.
‘So apparently, the pinky bit is for external play and then the other end for internal play, which is also the handle. I have to say, I think he is a smart boy, Zoe said.
‘The byline is, “Please yourself like you mean it,” which I love.’
The products – The Pleasing Double-Sided Vibrator (£51) and The Pleasing Lube (£19) – were developed in collaboration with sex educator and author Zoe Ligon.
Ligon told The Times that Styles was ‘very behind’ the concept, wanting to thoughtfully enter the sexual wellness space rather than simply slap his name on a product.
Styles, who launched Pleasing in 2021 with nail polishes and skincare, has now expanded the brand with what fans are calling a bold and body-positive step.
The launch was teased with a trio of cryptic ads – glass milk slams, vibrating phones, Morse code messages – before culminating in a video of Harry scribbling ‘Please yourself like you mean it’ on a diner bill.
Though the move surprised some fans who were expecting a new music drop, Zoe Ball thinks he’s struck gold.
And if any listeners manage to get their hands on one of the elusive toys? Zoe and Jo want a full review.
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