Angela Scanlon has been announced as the new host of BBC Radio 2's drivetime show, replacing Sara Cox. The 42-year-old Strictly Come Dancing star will present the weekday 4pm to 7pm slot from November, following Cox's move to the breakfast programme.
Scanlon's excitement and radio history
In a statement, Scanlon described landing the job as 'properly exciting', adding: 'Millions of people, all having completely different days, piling into the same conversation for a few hours – what a strange and lovely thing!'
She said: 'Every weekday, I'll be in your ears, your cars and your kitchens – on the school run, on the way home, or standing at the hob wondering what on earth to feed a small but hungry mob. I want all of it: the stories, the opinions, the chaos, the tiny triumphs and the things you probably shouldn't admit on national radio.'
Scanlon expressed her excitement to be 'wedged between Trevor Nelson and Jo Whiley's' shows, calling them 'two absolute radio legends.' She concluded: 'I cannot wait to get stuck in. We're going to have a lot of fun.'
Career background and Radio 2's welcome
The former Robot Wars co-host presented the Sunday early morning programme for the BBC from 2018 to 2021. In 2024, she moved to Virgin Radio, where she took over Graham Norton's breakfast show. She is also known for presenting The One Show, This Morning, Your Home Made Perfect, and The Apprentice: Unfinished Business.
Helen Thomas, head of Radio 2, said: 'I couldn't be happier to welcome Angela back to the Radio 2 family on a full-time basis. She's incredibly warm and quick-witted and proved to be extremely popular with the Radio 2 audience this summer.'
Thomas added: 'She's already well known to our listeners through her extensive work over many years across TV and radio and I always knew she'd make a triumphant return here! Drivetime is such an important show in terms of ensuring people get home and start their evenings in a positive and upbeat mood, and I'm delighted Angela will be taking up the reins in November.'
Context of the change
Sara Cox was announced as the new BBC Radio 2 Breakfast host earlier this year after Scott Mills departed the role. Mills was dismissed from the broadcaster in March following allegations of 'sexual offences'. He was investigated by police but later released a statement saying 'the evidential threshold had not been met to bring charges'.
