Sara Cox has disclosed that she auditioned for the role of host on Strictly Come Dancing, recalling being transported to a 'secret destination' during the highly confidential selection process. The 51-year-old DJ revealed that she tried out for the coveted presenting position just two days after securing the BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show role, following the unexpected dismissal of Scott Mills, 53, in March.
Despite successfully obtaining the prime-time radio slot, the new Strictly hosts were confirmed on Tuesday as Emma Willis, 50, Josh Widdicombe, 43, and Johannes Radebe, 39. The trio will take over the ballroom dance competition in September, replacing long-serving hosts Tess Daly, 57, and Claudia Winkleman, 54, who departed last year.
BBC executives selected the trio after inviting a number of celebrities, including Sara, Zoe Ball, 55, and Rylan Clark, 37, for chemistry evaluations. Following the announcement of the new hosts, Sara shared details of the top-secret audition process during her Radio 2 show on Tuesday.
She said: 'I tried out for Strictly. And I will say I tried out for it two days after I got offered my number one, all-time, dream job of the Radio 2 Breakfast Show. So I was like, "Oh, I'll go along and try for Strictly as well, why not, and what next? News at Ten?" So I went along, and it was the most gorgeous experience. I got into a car that was taking me to a secret destination. It was all hush-hush, and it was basically a bit like, you know, when you can go and play the Crystal Maze interactive game? It was like that. I was like, "Great, I'm going to be a Strictly presenter for an hour!" The whole thing was really great fun.'
Sara congratulated Emma, Josh, and Johannes for emerging victorious in the auditions and expressed relief that their signing was announced on Tuesday, ending months of speculation. She added: 'I'm pleased now for all the gossip, and all the WhatsApp groups can calm the heck down, going, "Who is it?"'
In April, the broadcaster was named as the new host of BBC Radio 2's Breakfast Show, and she will move from her current 4-7pm Teatime slot to the morning 6.30am-9.30am show this summer, following the abrupt sacking of Scott Mills. Sara said in a statement: '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. I've had the most glorious seven years of my career on Teatime, so thank you to my brilliant Teatime listeners who hopefully will join me at Breakfast for excellent music and all my usual nonsense plus some superstar guests. I honestly can't wait to wake the nation up with the biggest, most fun breakfast show ever.'
On March 30, Scott's sacking from the BBC was announced just days after he was abruptly taken off air. It later emerged that the DJ was investigated by police over alleged sexual offences involving a boy under the age of 16 back in 2018, but the case was closed in 2019 because 'the evidential threshold had not been met to bring charges'. A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said in a statement to the Daily Mirror newspaper: 'In December 2016, the Met began an investigation following a referral from another police force. The investigation related to allegations of serious sexual offences against a teenage boy. These were reported to have taken place between 1997 and 2000. As part of these enquiries, a man who was in his 40s at the time of the interview was questioned by police under caution in July 2018. A full file of evidence was submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service, who determined the evidential threshold had not been met to bring charges. Following this advice, the investigation was closed in May 2019.' It has not been confirmed if Mills' dismissal from his role at the company is linked to the previous police investigation. The BBC said in a statement: 'While we do not comment on matters relating to individuals, we can confirm Scott Mills is no longer contracted to work with the BBC.'
