Sara Cox shared a heartfelt tribute to her friends for “cheering me on and dusting me down” after she replaced Scott Mills on BBC Radio 2.
Mills was sacked from the radio station last month after it emerged he was investigated years ago by police over alleged serious sexual offences against a teenage boy under 16.
Last week, it was revealed Cox will take over as host of Radio 2’s Breakfast Show host from her close friend Mills. She will also fill in for Mills’ hosting duties for the BBC’s Eurovision coverage.
Amid the upheaval, Mills, 51, enjoyed a lunch and “booze-free bubbles” with two of her friends.
Sharing a photo of them posing in a restaurant with their drinks, the DJ wrote: “Pre-breakfast show announcement booze-free bubbles with the greatest two wingwomen I could wish for.
“Always there to cheer me on or pick me up & dust me down. Thank you for decades of friendship, love, support & lols.”
Cox and Mills have been friends and colleagues at the BBC for 30 years, having started at Radio 1 within a year of each other in the late ‘90s.
They have remained close since and Cox attended Mills’ star-studded wedding in 2024.
She currently hosts Radio 2's weekday Teatime show from 4pm to 7pm and will launch her first Breakfast Show this summer.
Reacting to her new role, she 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 honestly can’t wait to wake the nation up with the biggest most fun breakfast show ever.”
Mills was sacked by the BBC last month, shortly before it emerged the Metropolitan Police launched an investigation into the 53-year-old in 2016 over allegations of serious sexual offences involving a teenage boy under 16 between 1997 and 2000.
He allegedly stayed in contact with the boy for years until around 2006. The investigation was dropped due to lack of evidence.
The broadcaster has since addressed his firing, reiterating that the police probe was closed seven years ago and asking the public to “respect my wish not to make any further comment”.
Gary Davies has been filling in as breakfast show host since Mills was taken off the air.
Mills, who has been on BBC radio since 2011, has been in the teatime slot on BBC Radio 2 since 2018, after joining Radio 2 from Radio 1 in 2011.
DJ and radio presenter Trevor Nelson announced Cox’s new role on BBC Radio 2, saying: “We’ve just heard the news that our very own Sara Cox will be the brand new host of the Radio 2 Breakfast Show!
“You are gonna smash it girl. So well deserved. Absolutely love her on radio, and she’s gonna smash it.”
