Radio presenter Sara Cox has said she is not nervous about hosting Radio 2’s breakfast show and that she has been ready for “another challenge”.
The DJ, 51, will front the flagship breakfast slot from July 6 after fronting the teatime show, 4pm to 7pm, on the station since 2018.
Cox was announced as the new host in April and replaces former presenter Scott Mills who was sacked by the BBC shortly before it emerged that the Metropolitan Police launched an investigation into the 53-year-old in 2016 over allegations of serious sexual offences involving a boy aged under 16 between 1997 and 2000.
Speaking to the Times, Cox said: “It’s huge but I’m ready.
“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.”
The presenter said that despite loving the teatime slot, she was ready for another challenge.
She said: “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%to every day, I was starting to feel ready for another challenge.
“I was ready for something new and a bit scary because I quite like that feeling.
“It keeps you interested and interesting.”
Cox said she wants to have a “chuckle” and “play some brilliant songs”, claiming that a good breakfast show is one “that makes you laugh”.
“The big difference is that we didn’t have a single celebrity on teatime. The stars were always the regular listeners calling in,” she said.
“So I am going to take them with me to breakfast but we’ll have a bit of Hollywood too.”
Her first guest will be Hollywood actor Tom Hanks.
Cox will take over from Gary Davies, who has been filling in as breakfast show host since Mills was taken off air.
Asked about her predecessor Mills, she said: “I know no more than you do about the whole thing.”
Cox’s breakfast programme will include a new format which will bring listeners’ favourite bits from her teatime show.
The Bolton-born DJ previously described the role as a “dream” and said she was “ecstatic, honoured and incredibly chuffed”.
Her new Breakfast Show will be available on BBC Radio 2 from 6.30am on July 6.
