BBC Radio 2 confirms Sara Cox as new Breakfast Show host

Sara, who has been announced as Scott Mills replacement, said it has “been a dream” to host the Breakfast Show since she joined the iconic station many years ago.

The 51 year-old radio DJ from Bolton, who currently hosts Radio 2’s weekday Teatime show (4-7pm), will launch her first show this summer.

Sara commented: “There are not enough adjectives to really sum up how I’m feeling about being trusted with such an iconic show but let’s start with ecstatic, honoured and incredibly chuffed.

“It’s been a dream to host the Breakfast Show since I joined Radio 2 and it feels like a bit of a full circle for me.

“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.

“I honestly can’t wait to wake the nation up with the biggest most fun breakfast show ever.”

Helen Thomas, head of Radio 2 added: “I’m delighted that Sara Cox will be the new host of the prestigious Radio 2 Breakfast Show.

“Sara is adored by her millions of listeners at Teatime, and having regularly deputised in the slot, I already know she’ll build a brilliant rapport with the Breakfast audience and get the nation going each morning with her trademark warmth and humour.

“She captured the hearts of the country last November, raising a staggering £11.5m for Children in Need on her Great Northern Marathon Challenge and thoroughly deserves this gig. I can’t wait to hear her first show.”

Who is Sara Cox?

Sara kicked off her BBC radio career when she joined BBC Radio 1 in 1999 to present a Saturday lunchtime show, moving on the following year to present the Radio 1 Breakfast Show until December 2003.

Over the next 11 years Sara presented various shows on the network, including the weekday afternoon show, a weekend afternoon show and weekday mornings.

Sara joined Radio 2 in 2011, deputising for various presenters across the schedule.

She launched Sounds of the 80s on the station in 2013 and raised £1.2 million for Comic Relief by taking part in a non-stop 24-hour 80s Dance Challenge in 2017.

In May 2018, Sara began presenting a weekday 10pm-midnight show on the station, moving to host the Teatime (5-7pm) show later that year.

The show was extended to three hours (4-7pm) in 2022.

Meanwhile, in November 2025, Sara completed Sara’s Great Northern Marathon Challenge, walking and running 135 miles in five days from Kielder Forest in Northumberland to Pudsey in West Yorkshire.

Thousands of listeners lined the streets to cheer on and support the radio star, who raised £11.5 million for Children in Need, capturing the hearts of the nation along the way.

In March this year, Sara was honoured with the Audio Presenter of the Year prize at the Broadcasting Press Guild Awards.

On TV, Sara’s work includes The Big Breakfast (Channel 4), The Girlie Show (Channel 4), MTV, The Great Pottery Throwdown (BBC Two), Love in the Countryside (BBC Two), eight series of Between the Covers (BBC Two) and currently, The Marvellous Miniature Workshop (BBC One).

The presenter of the weekday 4-7pm slot on Radio 2, which Sara currently presents, will be announced in due course.

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