Sara Cox “absolutely buzzing” as new BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show host

Sara Cox has had her dream realised by being confirmed as the new host of BBC Radio 2’s flagship Breakfast Show.

The appointment sees one of the station’s most established presenters take over the show, replacing Scott Mills and leading the UK’s most listened-to breakfast show, which reaches 6.5 million listeners each week.

Sara said she was briefly lost for words when offered the role, describing it as a long-held ambition since joining Radio 2, and joked about finally getting the slot she had been waiting in the wings for.

She told listeners during her weekday Teatime programme that she was “absolutely buzzing” and promised that her Breakfast show would feature her usual mix of music, humour, and interaction with the audience.

Sara also paid tribute to her current 4–7pm show, calling the past seven years the most golden period of her career, and thanked listeners for their support while encouraging them to join her when she moves to mornings later this year.

The BBC confirmed that a new presenter for the Teatime slot will be announced in due course, as Sara prepares to begin her new role this summer.

Helen Thomas, Head of Radio 2, said Sara had already demonstrated her ability to connect with Breakfast audiences through previous appearances and would bring warmth and humour to the programme each morning.

She also highlighted Sara’s connection with listeners, including her fundraising efforts last November, when she raised £11.5 million for Children in Need during her Great Northern Marathon Challenge.

Sara’s radio career began at Radio 1 in 1999, where she hosted the Breakfast Show until the end of 2003, before moving to Radio 2 in 2011 and launching Sounds of the 80s in 2013.

She has presented the weekday Teatime show since 2018, with the programme extended to three hours in 2022, building a strong and loyal audience in the early evening slot.

The announcement was revealed on air by Trevor Nelson, who congratulated Sara and told listeners she had always wanted the role, prompting a wave of supportive messages from audiences.

Several names, including Vernon Kay, Rylan Clark, and Gary Davies, had been widely linked to the position ahead of the official confirmation.

Sara said: “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.”

She added: “I’ve had the most glorious seven years of my career on Teatime so thank you to my brilliant listeners who hopefully will join me at Breakfast. I honestly can’t wait to wake the nation up.”