Scott Mills announced as new BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show host after Zoe Ball quits
by Catherine Addison-Swan · ChronicleLiveScott Mills has been announced as the new host of BBC Radio 2's Breakfast Show, following Zoe Ball's announcement that she will be stepping down from the role in December after six years.
Zoe confirmed to listeners of the show in an emotional on-air statement on Tuesday morning that she is leaving the job to focus on her family, and will present her last show on December 20 alongside Scott to pass the torch on to the new host. DJ Scott, 51, currently fronts Radio 2's weekly afternoon programme, and described the step up to the breakfast show as a "lifelong dream".
He said in a statement: "Zoe and I have been such good friends now for over 25 years and have spent much of that time as part of the same radio family here at Radio 2 and also on Radio 1. She's done an incredible job on this show over the past six years, and I am beyond excited to be handed the baton.
"It feels ever since recording my first shows as a kid for an audience of one, my mum, all roads since have led to this amazing opportunity. It really is a lifelong dream come true to follow in the footsteps of Sir Terry, Chris and Zoe to be the new presenter of the Radio 2 Breakfast Show."
Zoe, 53, who also previously presented BBC Strictly Come Dancing spin-off It Takes Two, first took over the Radio 2 morning programme from Chris Evans in 2019. Before then, she was the first female host of the Radio 1 Breakfast Show in 1998, a post she held until 2000.
Zoe said on her Tuesday show: "After six years of fun times alongside you all on the breakfast show, I've decided it's time to step away from the early alarm call and start a new chapter. You know I think the world of you all, listeners, and it truly has been such a privilege to share the mornings with you, to go through life's little ups and downs - we got through the lockdown together, didn't we?"
She added: "We've shared a hell of a lot, the good times, the tough times, there's been a lot of laughter. And I am going to miss you cats."
The presenter went on to confirm that she will still be part of the "Radio 2 family", teasing more career news in the New Year. "I'm excited to embrace my next chapter, including being a mum in the mornings, and I can't wait to tune in on the school run!" she told listeners.
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