Sara Cox has revealed the health reason behind her energetic dancing on the BBC Radio 2 breakfast show, along with the strict routine that comes with her new role.
The 51-year-old broadcaster took over the breakfast show earlier this summer following the departure of Scott Mills in April. After more than three months in the job, the mum-of-three has shared some of the secrets behind her bouncy morning broadcasts.
Health motive for morning moves
Cox told The Sun that her habit of moving around the studio is not just about energy. She said: "I like to move around. But it's also for the leg region.
"The late [TV health expert] Michael Mosley did a podcast on inflammation - If you sit down for too long, your cells start making the inflammation. So, sadly, it's not for a rock 'n' roll reason."
Early alarms and early nights
The presenter also gave fans an insight into her bedtime and morning routine since landing the job. She admitted: "I am in bed by 9pm. When I started the job, I was setting my alarm at five, but then I was really rushing about.
"And I thought, 'No, Sara, make it a tiny bit earlier'. So, at 4.50am off goes the first one. Then Alexa is on standby at 4.55, and if things have gone really wrong, 5.05am and 5.06am are also set on my phone.
"And my husband, bless him, checks the doorbell sometimes to make sure I've actually gone."
Cox explained that being a light sleeper adds to the challenge. She said: "I am a light sleeper, so a lot of the time I take myself off to the spare room, because I'm getting up so early and need to sleep well."
While she slips into her PJs at 9.15pm, her husband prefers to stay up later during the week. She reflected: "Then Friday and Saturday, it feels like quite a treat and it's quite nice to be back together."
Listener figures remain strong
Cox got the breakfast gig after Scott Mills was fired when historical allegations of a sexual offence resurfaced. It has since emerged that the axed DJ has enlisted lawyers and is planning to sue the company.
Despite the upheaval, listener figures for the show have remained high, with an impressive 6.37 million listeners weekly.
Separately, Rylan Clark shared his frustration with BBC bosses following a travel mishap. The 37-year-old, who has hosted the afternoon show since 2019, was unable to make it to the studio earlier this year due to a strike by French air traffic controllers that prevented him from returning from Nice, France.
During an appearance on Alan Carr's podcast, Life's A Beach, he chuckled: "I was stranded in Nice, ain't it terrible? What a terrible place to be stranded, in the south of France. It was terrible. It was my own fault, like, the radio had a right go because, me being me, I was like, 'I'll just fly home on the morning of my show'."
Taking aim at BBC bosses regarding his pay packet, he went on: "Weren't my fault there was a French air traffic control strike. What am I supposed to do? Walk? P*** off for the money they pay me. Thank you, licence payers."
