Sara Cox is set to bring a down-to-earth vibe to her new Radio 2 Breakfast Show, prioritizing conversations about dogs, gardening, and potatoes over traditional showbiz gossip. The Bolton DJ will launch the show on Monday, July 6, with Hollywood legend Tom Hanks as her first guest, but she intends to keep the atmosphere relatable for listeners.
Relatable Conversations Over Showbiz Gossip
Cox explained her approach in an interview with Radio Times: “It’s lovely asking big guests about scripts and music videos, but not everyone can relate to that. I want to bring the megastars into the Radio 2 world. Our listeners care about dogs, holidays, gardening and potatoes, so I’ll ask my guests if they’ve ever been in a motorhome or their preferred way of cooking a potato. And the real stars are still going to be the listeners.”
The 51-year-old broadcaster joined Radio 2 in 1999 but acknowledged that she had to convince bosses she could be more than the 'ladette' image portrayed during her early TV appearances, such as The Girlie Show. “There was definitely a period where I had to persuade TV commissioners that I could be warm, funny and kind,” she said. “Women in the 90s were often portrayed as wild party girls and there was a bit of shame attached to that, as if we shouldn’t have been out having a good time. Moving to Radio 2 was a massive step. I kept asking for meetings and pitching ideas until eventually I got my foot in the door.”
Early Morning Routines and Future Plans
Cox admits to having “a few butterflies” ahead of the show but has been practicing with pilot runs. “For our pilot shows I’ve been up at 5am, out of the door by 5.30. I can do my make-up in eight minutes. It looks like someone’s thrown handfuls of make-up at me, but hopefully by 8.30 I’ll look less like Aunt Sally as it slides off my face.”
Looking beyond the Breakfast Show, Cox has her post-radio life planned: “Having my own farm is very much the dream. I’m happiest in my riding gear and scruffy clothes. I absolutely see myself one day with windswept hair, rescue sheep, a retired Nellie living her best life, and maybe a wonky donkey and some laying hens named after pop stars – Whitney, Prince and a cockerel called Stormzy.”
