Sara Cox launched her inaugural BBC Radio 2 breakfast show on Monday morning with a tongue-in-cheek legal warning to listeners, stepping into the role vacated by Scott Mills. Mills, 51, was dismissed in March after it emerged he had been investigated over alleged serious sexual offences against a boy under 16 between 1997 and 2000.
A Humorous Start
Cox, who previously hosted the teatime slot from 4pm to 7pm since 2018, began her new role with a lighthearted tone. She played songs like Lizzo’s About Damn Time and CeCe Peniston’s Finally, but drew the line at Ella Fitzgerald’s At Last, calling it “too self-indulgent”. She then introduced her new game, Surprise and Shine, insisting it was not similar to her old game Totally Game from her teatime show. “If anybody dares say this is similar to a feature I did on teatime, my lawyers are listening,” she joked.
New Game and Socks
Cox explained the game: “It's a Monday and it's your favourite presenter - me - feeling a little bit clingy and I want some love. Time to register for Surprise and Shine! This is the part of the show where I'll be surprising one lucky listener with an early morning call and answer with the correct phrase and you win a pair of Sara's socks. They are orange socks with my actual face on the bony bit of the ankle. I have arrived!” The phrase for the week is “I’m on board for brekkie,” and listeners can register for the game starting Tuesday morning.
Thanking Gary Davies
Cox also thanked Gary Davies, who filled the slot after Mills was taken off air. “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,” she said.
First Guest and Confidence
Her first guest was Hollywood actor Tom Hanks. Cox revealed last week that she wasn’t “nervous” about taking over from Mills. “It’s huge but I’m ready,” she told the Times. “I might have to bury my phone in my neighbour’s sandpit a couple of days before because I don’t like people texting me good luck, but the minute I open my mic, I’ll be fine. I’m not nervous because I know I can do a good job. I don’t want to sound arrogant but I’ve been doing radio for 28 years now.”
Ready for a New Challenge
Cox said she was ready for a new challenge after seven years on the teatime show. “I think if you’re ambitious, you always want to do the next big thing. After seven years on a show that I absolutely love, that I give 100 per cent to every day, I was starting to feel ready for another challenge,” she said.
Scott Mills' Departure
Regarding her predecessor, Cox said, “I know no more than you do about the whole thing.” Mills was sacked shortly before it emerged that police had launched an investigation into him in 2016 over allegations of serious sexual offences involving a boy under 16. The investigation was dropped due to lack of evidence. The BBC confirmed it knew about the police investigation in 2017, but said it “acted decisively” after receiving “new information” in the weeks before his sacking. In April, Mills released a statement through his lawyers saying he had been the subject of “rumour and speculation” since his sacking and had “co-operated fully” with the police investigation. He is reportedly planning to sue the BBC for unfair dismissal.
