Surprise for Zoe Ball as Richie Anderson reveals gritter named after her

After Radio 2’s Zoe Ball became obsessed with the names of gritters up and down the country, she now has one named her.

Listeners have been getting in touch recently with ones they have spotted – like GRIT-ney Spears… Carrie BradTHAW… and Taylor DRIFT. Calvin Harris has been posting about it on Instagram too as he has a Scottish gritter named after him called Calvin Harr-ice.

Hertfordshire County Council’s Highways Team surprised Zoe during her Breakfast Show this morning as they have named one of their gritters after her.

Traffic and travel reporter, Richie Anderson, was in Stevenage with their Highways team to make the big reveal to Zoe – who had no idea this was about to happen.

They have a fleet of 70 gritters from four depots and now they have named one of them SNOWY BALL, which will be driven by the county’s 140 drivers, to keep the roads clear across the county day and night!

Zoe said: “I am absolutely speechless. I can’t really believe it. Honestly, mum, dad… I’ve made it! I’ve got a gritter named after me. Aww we shall feast at Christmas! Do you know what? I want to go to Stevenage and ride in Snowy Ball.

“Chris, all of you up there, that is amazing. Kerry, our listener, I’m completely flummoxed, I don’t even know what to say. Unbelievable scenes!  See, who needs an honorary degree when you can have a gritter named after you? I’m absolutely made up.”

That wasn’t all from the Highways team, as they then surprised Richie live on air by revealing that they had named a smaller gritter (used for cycle lanes) after him – called GRIT-CHIE Anderson!

Richie said: “I know how people must feel when they get MBEs! I can’t believe my name, it’s not in lights, but it’s in black paint on the side of a van. And I love it!

“I’ll have to do what royalty do and christen it with a bottle of champagne! I can’t believe it. I feel really, like, emotional! Thank you so much everyone. I’ve gone really shy. Thank you! It means so much, thank you everyone.”