Vernon Kay has suggested that he and Sara Cox might need to adjust their accents when she takes over BBC Radio 2's Breakfast Show permanently. Speaking on his mid-morning slot, Vernon was joined by Sara as she selected 10 tracks that shaped her life ahead of launching her new show.
Shared Bolton Roots
Reflecting on their shared roots, Vernon highlighted that while both grew up in Bolton, they lived on opposite sides of the town. He said: 'Sara will be handing over to myself, so we go from Bolton to Bolton. And it's quite interesting because Sara lived at one end of Bolton and I lived at the other end of Bolton. She was on the east, I was on the west side of Bolton.'
'I think we might have to change our accents to make sure that it's not double Bolton on a weekday morning. 'Hiya love, you alright?' That's the greeting that I get every time I see my Auntie Dory and my Auntie Lillian, 'Hiya love'. You wouldn't change it for the world,' he added, as reported by the Express.
Sara's Journey to Breakfast
During the programme, Sara, 51, discussed growing up on her father's farm in Bolton and reminisced about her childhood. She also touched on her early modelling work, which included trips to South Korea after being scouted in Paris. Sara looked back on securing her breakthrough presenting role on Channel 4's The Girlie Show, fronting BBC Radio 1's Breakfast Show, interviewing Missy Elliott, dining with Eminem, and the tracks she connects with her husband Ben and their children.
Sara officially took the helm of BBC Radio 2's Breakfast Show on Monday, July 6, 2026, kicking off her debut programme with Lizzo's 'About Damn Time' before marking England's 3-2 World Cup triumph over Mexico by playing 'Three Lions'. She also reached out to listeners for support, saying: 'It is a Monday. It's my first show, and your favourite DJ, me feeling little bit clingy, as per, and I want some love.'
Thanks to Gary Davies
Sara recounted an anecdote about her husband, Ben Cyzer, whose efforts to avoid learning England's result before watching match highlights were scuppered by jubilant fans outside their house. She also took time to thank Gary Davies for presenting the breakfast slot in recent months following Scott Mills' exit. She said: 'For the past few months, a legend has been doing breakfast, and we can't not say thank you to him this morning. He was parachuted in. He did a proper shift. The one, the only, you love him, Mr Gary Davies.'
Permanent Host and Fundraising
Sara was announced as the permanent host of Radio 2's weekday Breakfast Show in April, having previously hosted the station's weekday teatime slot. Last year, she completed a 135-mile challenge across five days, raising £11.7 million for Children in Need.
