Sara Cox will replace Scott Mills as the new host of the BBC Radio 2 breakfast show, the corporation has announced.
The DJ, 51, who currently hosts the teatime show on the station from 4pm to 7pm, will take over the role in the summer.
Cox 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.”
Cox will take over the show after 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.
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.
Helen Thomas, head of Radio 2 said: “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.
“She captured the hearts of the country last November, raising a staggering £11.5 million for Children in Need on her Great Northern Marathon Challenge and thoroughly deserves this gig.
“I can’t wait to hear her first show.”
DJ and radio presenter Trevor Nelson announced the news on BBC Radio 2 and said: “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.”
The new DJ for the teatime slot will be announced in due course.
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