Sara Cox has been announced as Scott Mills’ replacement on the BBC Radio 2 breakfast show.
Earlier this month, Mills was sacked from the BBC over what the corporation described as concerns relating to his “personal conduct”. It was subsequently reported that Mills’ dismissal was linked to a police investigation in 2016 involving allegations of sexual offences against a teenage boy.
The BBC later admitted that concerns about ”inappropriate communications” involving Mills were raised last year, and apologised that no investigation was pursued at the time.
Mills later spoke out, confirming that an allegation of a historic sexual offence was made against him in 2016, and that he “fully co-operated and responded to” the police investigation. He said the “evidential threshold had not been met to bring charges”, and added that he hoped the public would “respect my wish not to make any further public comment on this matter”.
It was then reported that it was unclear whether BBC managers at the time of the original investigation knew that the alleged victim was under 16 years old.
Now, it has been confirmed that Cox, who is the current host of the station’s weekday teatime show from 4pm-7pm, will take over the breakfast show, with her first show set to be broadcast this summer. Her replacement at teatime will be announced at a later date.
Cox has said: “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.”
Helen Thomas, Head of Radio 2, added: “I’m delighted that Sara Cox will be the new host of the prestigious Radio 2 Breakfast Show. Sara is adored by her millions of listeners at teatime, and having regularly deputised in the slot, I already know she’ll build a brilliant rapport with the breakfast audience and get the nation going each morning with her trademark warmth and humour.”
Cox joined BBC Radio 1 in 1999, presenting the Saturday lunchtime show, before moving to the breakfast show from 2000 to 2003. She joined Radio 2 in 2011 and has hosted the teatime show since 2018.
The post Sara Cox replaces Scott Mills on Radio 2 breakfast show after alleged misconduct sacking appeared first on NME.
