Sara Cox will replace Scott Mills as the host of the flagship BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show, as announced by the BBC. The decision follows the corporation’s termination of Mills’ contract due to new information related to an ongoing police investigation concerning alleged historic sexual offences, reports BritPanorama.
Cox, who is currently presenting Radio 2’s Teatime Show, is set to transition to her new role in the summer. Following Mills’ dismissal in late March, Gary Davies has temporarily taken over hosting duties.
In a statement, the 51-year-old DJ expressed her happiness, stating she was “ecstatic, honoured and incredibly chuffed” to take over the station’s flagship program, which boasts an audience of 6.5 million listeners. She called it a dream to host the breakfast show since joining Radio 2, reflecting on her journey and the experience of coming full circle.
The BBC plans to announce a successor for Cox’s current role at a later date. She has been with Radio 2 for several years and has garnered a significant following. Cox remarked, “I’ve had the most glorious seven years of my career on Teatime, so thank you to my brilliant Teatime listeners who hopefully will join me at Breakfast for excellent music and all my usual nonsense plus some superstar guests.”
Regularly filling in during Mills’ absence, the BBC’s head of Radio 2, Helen Thomas, praised Cox’s appointment, citing her rapport with listeners and recent fundraising efforts that raised £11.5 million for Children in Need. Thomas expressed excitement for Cox’s upcoming shows.
Mills had previously hosted late afternoon programming on Radio 2 since 2018 after a lengthy career that began at BBC Radio 1 in 2011. His departure highlights the ongoing scrutiny and challenges facing public broadcasters.
