Sara Cox to Launch BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show on July 6 with Tom Hanks as First Guest

Sara Cox is preparing to wake up the nation in one of the most high-profile moves in British radio, as her new BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show is set to launch on Monday, July 6.

The 51-year-old broadcaster has confirmed that her first programme will air from 6:30am to 9:30am, marking the beginning of a new chapter for BBC Radio 2’s flagship morning slot. The launch comes after Cox ended her long-running Teatime show, which she hosted for seven years, and follows the departure of former Breakfast Show presenter Scott Mills.

In a major opening-day moment, Cox has also revealed that Hollywood star Tom Hanks will be her first guest, giving the new show an immediate dose of A-list appeal.

A New Morning Era Begins at Radio 2

Cox announced the exact start date during an appearance on Vernon Kay’s BBC Radio 2 show, ending weeks of speculation about when her move to breakfast would officially begin.

“OK, my big news is…god, I’ve gone all hot and excited. My big news is that…there’s been quite a lot of mystery about when the brand new Sara Cox Breakfast Show begins on BBC Radio 2,” she said.

“I’ve been quite mysterious and going, ‘it’s in the summer’ and waggling my eyebrows mysteriously.

“But I can now announce, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, and everyone in between, please do join me for my very first Breakfast Show on Radio 2 on 6th of July. Three weeks today! Very very excited.

“It is 6.30am. The date is the 6th of July.”

The new show will run in the key weekday breakfast window, from 6:30am until 9:30am, a slot that remains one of the most important in UK broadcasting. For Radio 2, the programme is not only about music and interviews; it is a daily habit for millions of listeners beginning their mornings at home, in cars, on public transport, and at work.

Tom Hanks Gives the Launch a Hollywood Opening

Cox’s first guest will be Tom Hanks, the Oscar-winning actor and long-time voice of Woody in the Toy Story franchise. Hanks is expected to discuss Toy Story 5, making his appearance a major entertainment booking for the show’s debut.

Cox joked about the scale of the launch, saying: “Roll on the 6th July!

“For generations to come people will (probably) say ‘where were YOU when the Sara Cox Breakfast Show was launched on Radio 2 featuring the legendary Tom Hanks?’ (and hopefully they’ll reply ‘listening and laughing along with a nice brew’)”.

She later added: “And, you know, I mentioned the Toy Story news as well. I mean, I don’t know where we go from here because I think we’ve started almost too big.

“My very first guest on the Sara Cox Breakfast Show will be…Mr. Tom Hanks.”

Vernon Kay responded: “Awh legend. The nicest man in showbusiness.”

Cox replied: “Woody at Breakfast. Yes, cannot wait!”

The decision to launch with Hanks signals the tone Radio 2 appears to want for the new breakfast era: warm, mainstream, celebrity-friendly and built around Cox’s familiar mix of humour, music and personality-led broadcasting.

From Teatime Favourite to Breakfast Flagship

Cox’s move to breakfast comes shortly after she hosted her final Teatime show on Radio 2. She had become one of the station’s most recognisable weekday voices through that slot, where her informal style, listener rapport and mix of music and conversation helped build a loyal audience.

Her shift to breakfast is therefore less a reinvention than a promotion into one of the BBC’s most visible broadcasting roles. The Breakfast Show is a major platform, and Cox’s appointment reflects both her popularity and her experience across national radio.

When her new role was first announced, Cox described the opportunity as deeply meaningful.

“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,” she said.

“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.”

That “full circle” reference is especially significant because Cox has already experienced the unique pressure and profile of breakfast radio. She previously hosted the BBC Radio 1 Breakfast Show between 2000 and 2003, before later becoming a major figure at Radio 2.

What Listeners Can Expect from the New Format

BBC Radio 2 has indicated that Cox’s new programme will feature a “fresh new format”, while also carrying over listeners’ “favourite bits” from her former Teatime show. The station has also promised “plenty of brand-new breakfast treats to start your day” and conversations with “some of the world’s biggest stars”.

That balance will be important. Breakfast radio depends heavily on routine: listeners want a show that feels familiar enough to become part of their morning, but energetic enough to make the early hours feel alive. Cox’s challenge will be to transfer the warmth and spontaneity of her Teatime programme into a faster, earlier and more nationally prominent slot.

Her own comments suggest she understands the shift. Asked by Jeremy Vine how many alarm clocks she would need, Cox laughed and replied: “42. And it’s the first-ever Sara Cox Breakfast Show. I can’t wait – it’s so exciting.”

The joke captures the lighter tone Cox is likely to bring to the programme. Her appeal has long rested on a blend of humour, enthusiasm and unforced familiarity — qualities that may prove valuable in a breakfast slot where presenters often become part of listeners’ daily lives.

A High-Profile Change After Scott Mills’s Exit

Cox is replacing Scott Mills, who was dismissed by the BBC earlier this year. Mills had been removed from the Radio 2 Breakfast Show after new information about a police investigation came to light at the broadcaster.

The investigation related to alleged sex offences involving a boy aged under 16. Mills was questioned by police under caution in 2018, but the case was dropped in full due to a lack of evidence, it is understood.

His departure from Radio 2 was followed by the loss of other BBC roles, including work on the BBC’s Eurovision coverage and a planned podcast spin-off linked to Race Across The World, which he won in its celebrity format in 2024.

The circumstances surrounding Mills’s exit created a period of uncertainty for one of Radio 2’s most important programmes. Gary Davies stood in following the change, while attention quickly turned to who would take over the breakfast slot permanently.

Cox’s appointment brought that uncertainty to an end. Her status as an established BBC broadcaster made her a natural choice, and insiders had reportedly viewed her as a leading candidate for the position.

A source said at the time: “Sara has been handed the top job and it’s official, she is the new host of the Radio 2 Breakfast Show.

“This is something the BBC have always had lined up for her and she could not be more excited to take on the role.”

Why the Radio 2 Breakfast Show Still Matters

The BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show remains one of the most influential programmes in British radio. Its host must do more than introduce songs and interview guests; they set the tone for the station’s day and help define Radio 2’s broader identity.

For listeners, breakfast radio is often personal. It accompanies morning routines, school runs, commutes and first cups of tea or coffee. That makes presenter chemistry crucial. A successful breakfast host has to feel energetic without being overwhelming, warm without becoming predictable, and spontaneous while still holding together a tightly produced national show.

Cox’s appointment suggests Radio 2 is leaning into personality, familiarity and broad entertainment appeal. Bringing Tom Hanks in as the first guest underlines the ambition to make the debut feel like an event, while the planned mix of music, familiar features and new segments points to a gradual evolution rather than a complete break from the station’s existing sound.

A Career Milestone for Sara Cox

For Cox, the July 6 launch is one of the defining moments of her broadcasting career. She has moved through multiple eras of British radio, from her Radio 1 years to her long-standing place at Radio 2, and has built a reputation as one of the BBC’s most dependable and relatable presenters.

Her farewell to Teatime closed an important chapter, but the Breakfast Show gives her an even larger stage. The move also positions her at the centre of Radio 2’s weekday schedule, where audience loyalty, presenter identity and high-profile guests all matter.

Her victory over Jeremy Vine in the Ten To The Top quiz added a light-hearted note to the announcement day, but the bigger story is clear: Cox is stepping into a role that carries both prestige and pressure.

What Happens Next

The first test will come on Monday, July 6, when Cox opens the microphone at 6:30am and begins her first BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show. With Tom Hanks booked as the opening guest, the debut already has a major entertainment hook.

After that, the challenge will be consistency. A strong launch can attract attention, but breakfast radio succeeds through daily rhythm. Cox will need to keep existing Radio 2 listeners on board, bring Teatime fans with her, and establish a morning identity that feels distinct from both her previous show and the presenters who came before her.

Her own promise is simple: music, humour, celebrity guests and “all my usual nonsense” — but now delivered at breakfast.

Conclusion: A Big BBC Radio 2 Moment Arrives on July 6

Sara Cox’s move to the BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show marks a major reshaping of the station’s morning schedule. Her July 6 launch gives Radio 2 a clear new direction after a turbulent period, while Tom Hanks’s appearance as the first guest ensures the debut will arrive with star power.

For Cox, it is a dream role and a career milestone. For listeners, it is the start of a new morning routine. And for BBC Radio 2, it is a chance to reset its flagship breakfast programme around one of its most familiar and warmly regarded voices.