Radio 2 breakfast audience drops slightly following Zoe Ball's exit
– Radio 2 remains the most popular station in the UK with an overall weekly audience of 13.11 million in January to March this year, although this is down from 13.65 million in October-December 2024 and is the lowest figure since Rajar resumed reporting in autumn 2021 after a break during the Covid-19 pandemic.
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Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Daily Mirror
Scott Mills' big admission about his finances after bagging £450k Radio 2 job
Radio DJ Scott Mills revealed he has 'made it' after he took over the BBC Radio 2 breakfast show after previously 'risking' his health from working too much over two decades Scott Mills has revealed he is finally 'financially secure' and has 'made it' after he took over the BBC Radio 2 breakfast show after Zoe Ball left the post. Scott, 51, took over the position in January from Zoe, who left to focus on her family. Opening up about his career and his new ability to say 'no' to work, after missing sleep for jobs, Scott told The Telegraph: 'For the first time, I really do believe in myself. You have to look at the facts. They've put you on the breakfast show, you must be doing something right.' It comes after he admitted to taking on 'too much' work, sometimes at a 'risk' to his own health. Reflecting on his jam-packed career, Scott said: 'I was working way too much, because my mindset was that you don't know when it might end. There was one freshers' week where my schedule for playing in student unions was: Monday: Aberdeen, Tuesday: Glasgow, Wednesday: Edinburgh.' While Scott said he 'enjoyed' taking every opportunit y he got for two decades, 'life is different now' and he 'doesn't want to' do that anymore. Last month, Scott opened up to the Mirror about the hard work that goes into the show and that Zoe gave him a warning when he took over the job, but he still describes it as his 'happy place'. He said: 'The show is a lot, it's hard work. It's a treadmill every day. I remember when Zoe finished, she said to me: 'Look, doing breakfast on Radio 2 is quite a lot. It's quite demanding, and you've just always got to be on." He added: "She was right. The amount of guests we have - it's continuous. When she said it to me, I was like: 'I'm ready'. And I am, it's my happy place." The Mail previously reported that Scott took a small pay rise for presenting the show, however, it was significantly less than his predecessor, Zoe. While it is reported that Scott is earning approximately £450,000 a year, Zoe was reportedly on £950,000. Zoe confirmed her departure from the early morning slot back in November, telling listeners it was 'time to start a new chapter' before she left in January. However, that wasn't the end of her journey on the radio. On air, she told her listeners: "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'. She added: "I just want to say I'm so grateful to my incredible boss ladies... they have always been so supportive of me, especially in this job and particularly this year." Just months after her final Breakfast Show, Zoe has already returned to the Radio 2 line-up with a brand new Saturday afternoon show. The new programme launched on May 3 and will continue to air weekly. According to Radio 2 bosses, it will deliver "the best songs and chat for a Saturday". Zoe herself says listeners can expect "lots of laughs" and upbeat favourites.
The National
2 hours ago
- The National
The actor passionate about putting Scottish talent on the world stage
And he hopes that the recent appointment of Alan Cumming as artistic director of Pitlochry Theatre will help that happen. 'There is definitely a buzz around Pitlochry just now and Scottish theatre could really use that sense of excitement,' said Collins, who is appearing in three productions at the theatre this summer, including Grease which opens this month. 'Making Scottish entertainment more globally recognised is one thing I am always really passionate about,' he added. 'I know that Canada, America and Australia would love to see more Scottish content and I know that we have the talent here and that we can do it. It is just a matter of finding out how to package these things up.' READ MORE: 'Joy, celebration and warmth' of Palestinian art to be showcased at Edinburgh Fringe He is now on the cusp of applying for indefinite leave to remain, but Collins's commitment to Scotland and Scottish theatre was tested severely back in 2017 when he struggled to renew his visa from the UK Home Office. At the time he had been in Scotland for 10 years, having arrived in 2007 to study at the RSAMD, now the Royal Conservatoire in Glasgow. However, when his visa ran out, he was forced to go back to the United States to re-apply after the Arts Council in England failed to endorse his initial application. This was despite protests from well-known actors like Greg Hemphill and Jack Lowden and a successful run of work in Scotland, including playing Hen Broon to much acclaim in the stage production of The Broons cartoon strip. Eventually successful but having lost out on months of work, Collins returned to Scotland and has never regretted it. 'The idea of starting over in America did not appeal and especially now the way things are,' he said. 'I've been super lucky, even in Covid when I got to do voiceovers for Lego and Warhammer and other amazing projects, including recording a video game after lockdown that has just come out on Xbox called Star Trucker.' His commitment to Scotland remains even after all the setbacks his adopted country has suffered since 2014. 'One of the reasons I stayed in Scotland after I graduated is that I felt a bit of a renaissance happening here and felt I wanted to be a part of it and help that movement,' he said. 'We've had the legs kicked out from under us a few times with the indyref and Covid but I am trying to keep the faith and spotlight all the really talented Scots and people who work in Scotland as more people should be seeing them.' Although he has now lived in Scotland for most of his adult life, Glasgow-based Collins only visited Pitlochry for the first time last year. 'It's a beautiful part of the world and it's lovely to be working here just now, as it's an exciting time with Alan coming in,' said Collins, who is appearing as Kenickie in Grease which runs in Pitlochry from June 18 to September 27. He will also appear in the theatre's forthcoming Great Gatsby production and Sunshine on Leith. READ MORE: This bird species is found only in Scotland – and may 'have a Scottish accent' Grease is a co-production with Blackpool Grand Theatre and it is the first time it has been staged as an actor/musician show. 'We're all playing instruments on stage and playing all the backing,' said Collins, who plays guitar. 'That has been pretty cool and the calibre of the musicians is awesome. It's really fun and all the songs are great. It's a toe-tapper that people enjoy.' Director Sam Hardie pointed out that although the musical is now 50 years old, its songs fill dance floors, karaoke rooms and play on radio stations across the world. 'I still remember the feeling of seeing the film for the first time, with songs that made you just want to move and characters you longed to be,' he said. 'The story is a celebration of what it means to be young: to fall in and out of love, to rebel, to dream, to dance and discover who we are and who we want to be. 'Now feels like exactly the right moment to tell this story and meet these young people who remind us of the vitality of life and that in this world we should go together rather than individuals apart.'
Scottish Sun
3 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
I'm spitting image of superstar Ed Sheeran – but I've become a hermit because fans mob me every time I leave the house
The lookalike once met his superstar doppelganger SHAPE OF YOU I'm spitting image of superstar Ed Sheeran – but I've become a hermit because fans mob me every time I leave the house Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) AN UNCANNY Ed Sheeran lookalike has been forced to become a hermit because he keeps getting mobbed by the megastar's fans. Ty Jones, who is the spitting image of the Lego House singer, claims that his life is far from Perfect because he has to wear a disguise whenever he leaves his home. Sign up for the Entertainment newsletter Sign up 9 Ed Sheeran lookalike Ty Jones at his home in Manchester Credit: Zenpix 9 Ty says he gets mistaken so often for the star he hardly ever goes out Credit: Rex Features 9 Ty look in the ring in April for the Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn fight Credit: Getty The 30-year-old professional impersonator, of Manchester, told how meeting Ed face-to-face was like 'looking in a mirror'. He is often forced to wear sunglasses and a hat because he gets stopped every time he goes to the shop. And Ty admitted that he still struggles to convince his two-year-old daughter that the songwriter is not her dad. Speaking to The Sun, he said: "Looking like Ed causes chaos - it's made me a bit of a hermit in my day to day life. 'I met Ed once at the Apollo in Manchester, but I didn't expect us to be the same height. 'I thought he would be a little bit taller, but it was eerily like looking into a mirror. He was shocked by the similarities too. 'Even my daughter she sees Ed and thinks it's pictures of her dad. "I'm still trying to teach her, but it's not easy when I struggle to tell us apart sometimes." Ty continued: "I'm not a very outgoing person and socially I'm not always the best, so it is difficult. It's a blessing and a curse. "Quite often I'll wear a hat and sunglasses when I'm nipping out. Wearing a face mask during Covid was the best time for me, I felt like a normal person for once. 'I realise that I can never take a day off because to everyone else I'm always going to look like Ed. Whenever he gets busy, I get busy. 'Ed Sheeran lookalike replaces ring girl on Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn undercard' 'It's a job you can't leave and a mask you can't take off - I've accidentally become famous because of how I look!' Ty gave viewers shivers when he sat ringside at the Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn fight in London in April. During fights in the build-up to the blockbuster clash, Ty could be seen between rounds with other celebrity lookalikes David Beckham and Hannibal Lecter. The dad-of-one was invited by Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority to star as a 'tasteful alternative' to classic ring girls. His surprise appearance along with the other lookalikes stunned fans and caused chaos at the venue, with hoards of people crowding him as he went to use the toilet. One viewer said: 'Is that Ed Sheeran? Ed Sheeran is the ring girl. 'That has caught me completely off guard. What's going on here?' It even prompted the Shape of You singer, 34, to come out on social media and clarify it was not actually him. Responding to a viral video of his doppelganger, Ed replied: 'That ain't me bruv.' 9 The lookalike gets swamped by fans if he's not in disguise Credit: Instagram / @ed_experience 9 In a spooky coincidence, his daughter was born two weeks after Ed's Credit: Paul Cousans 9 Meeting the Lego House singer was like 'looking into a mirror' Following his success at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, he was invited to appear in New York for the fight between US boxers Ryan Garcia and Rolando Romero just days later. But Ty explained that a number of 'spooky' coincidences have led him to believe that the pair have more in common than just their looks. He added: 'What I find weird is that we had a baby at the exact same time. 'His pregnancy was kept completely under wraps, but my wife had her baby less than two weeks after Ed's wife had hers. It's so spooky. 'I sometimes wonder if I'm a very distant cousin. I would love to get an actual DNA test of me and him. 'I've done a bit of research on where his family comes from and it turns out both of our families are from the same place. 'We have some heavy ancestry originating from the same place in Wexford, Ireland. 'It's crazy to think where the paths have crossed in previous generations, with our ancestors and relatives living in the same place all those years ago.' I gave birth to 'Ed Sheeran's' baby – I was exhausted but still went to the singer's concert hours later By Jon Rogers and Liam Coleman A WOMAN who had a baby with an Ed Sheeran lookalike was at the singer's concert just hours after giving birth. Ty Jones and his partner Amanda Baron welcomed their first child together in June 2022. They called their daughter Cherry Rose - in a nod to Ed's wife Cherry Seaborn - and added the middle names Leigh and Sheeran. And just hours after giving birth, mum-of-five Amanda, from Carrington, Gtr Manchester, was watching her idol in concert. Having had barely any sleep, the couple went to see Ed perform at Man City's Etihad Stadium. Amanda was introduced to Ty by pals who met him at one of the star's gigs. Ty, who looks so like the Shape of You singer that he works full-time as an Ed-alike, said: 'I feel phenomenal. Cherry is beautiful.' And Amanda, who is an Ed Sheeran superfan, said: 'She's perfect.' Cherry Rose, who arrived three weeks early, was born at Wythenshawe Hospital weighing 5lb 6oz at 4.08am. She said of the baby: 'I chose the name Cherry as it's so sweet. 'We also wanted to keep the Ed Sheeran theme in the family.' 9 Ty said that fans of the singer regularly approach him Credit: Instagram / @ed_experience 9 His job as an impersonator led him to be a 'ring girl' alternative Credit: tiktok/
