
Scott Mills says his BBC Radio 2 Breakfast debut is ‘hard to process' after replacing Zoe Ball
Scott Mills has admitted he is still struggling to process his new role as the host of BBC Radio 2 's primetime breakfast programme.
The 51-year-old opened his first show on Monday (27 January) telling listeners that he found it 'mind-blowing' to be following in the footsteps of Chris Evans, Terry Wogan and the most recent host of the show, Zoe Ball – who left the programme in December to 'focus on family'.
Mills told listeners: 'Here we go then, Monday the 27th of January 2025 and this is the Scott Mills Breakfast Show on BBC Radio 2.
'And I can't believe I am finally saying those words, as a radio presenter and a radio fan all my life. I'm still finding it quite hard to process that this is happening, if I'm honest,' he continued.
"If I think too much about the previous occupiers of this show, it becomes mind-blowing to me, for a kid who wanted to be on the radio but wasn't sure he had the self-confidence to be able to actually do it.'
The first track he played was Robbie Williams' 'Rock DJ', from the 2000 album Sing When You're Winning. Mills remarked afterwards: 'This might be the best day of my life, apart from getting married.'
To mark his inauguaral day, BBC has arranged a series of special Scott Mills-themed events, with signage at Stockport train station was changed to 'Scottport' on Monday, whole a choir appeared on the show to sing Scott-themed songs, such as the Spice Girls' 'Stop Right Now' being reimagined into the lyrics 'Scott Right Now'.
A station spokesperson for Stockport told Mills on air: "The team have been working so hard right the way through the night to change Stockport to Scottport. A whole new town, a whole new name, just to welcome Scott Mills."
As a teenager, Mills bagged his first role in radio at Power FM – his local station in Fareham, Hampshire.
He instantly impressed the producers at the station and was given the 'graveyard slot', which aired between 1am and 6am; six nights a week. He later graduated into the afternoon 'drive time' slot, which typically airs from 5pm. His role at Power FM made him the youngest radio presenter in the UK.
Mills made the move from Power FM to GWR FM Bristol, where he stayed for two years, before moving to Piccadilly Key 103 in Manchester, starting with a late-night slot and moving into presenting the station's mid-morning programme.
While at the Manchester station, Mills secured exclusive interviews with popstars including Robbie Williams and discussed his departure from Take That.
The presenter made his move to London in 1995 and began presenting for Heart Radio, which had just been launched at the time. At Heart, Mills began making enough noise to get attention from the BBC.
His hard work paid off when he was approached by BBC Radio 1 and joined in October 1998 to present the early breakfast show between 4am and 7am. By 2004, he was moved into a weekend afternoon slot.
Also in 2004, Mills covered Sara Cox's maternity leave, and when Cox decided not to return, he became the permanent presenter of the early evening programme, which was renamed The Scott Mills Show. Cox returned to the station in 2005 but Mills remained in his slot.
It was announced in 2022 that he was leaving Radio 1 after 24 years to replace Steve Wright in the Afternoon on Radio 2, which airs between 2 and 4pm. That show will now be presented by Trevor Nelson.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

South Wales Argus
36 minutes ago
- South Wales Argus
Strictly Come Dancing line-up rumours revealed for 2025
Bosses are reportedly keen to avoid any further controversies this year, and are 'taking no chances' in bookings. Blue Peter presenters Joel Mawhinney and Shini Muthukrishnan are said to be in the running, along with Tom Parker Bowles, Queen Camilla's son. According to the MailOnline, a host of famous faces have already been approached for this year's series, which is set to get underway in September. Other big names reportedly lined up include former I'm A Celebrity winner Georgia Toffolo, Girls Aloud singer Nicola Roberts, ex-Love Island star Dani Dyer, and former Coronation Street actress Helen Flanagan. A BBC insider reportedly told MailOnline: "There will be stringent checks, and asking around, and digging into potential stars' backgrounds to make sure that they're not choosing anyone who might damage the show. 'For years, there was the whole Strictly 'curse' where the contestants and professionals kept having affairs. But that stopped. "Changes were made to the partnerships and it worked. There have been other issues in the past couple of years, though. 'Going forward, those at the top want a wholesome image to shine through. No more scandal – just joy." It follows recent controversies on Strictly, where professional dancer Giovanni Pernice was the subject of an internal investigation. Recommended reading: Former BBC Radio Wales host Wynne Evans also issued a public apology for making what he called an 'inappropriate and unacceptable' comment during the Strictly live tour launch in December last year. Earlier this week, EastEnders' actor Jamie Borthwick was also suspended by the BBC after allegedly using a slur against disabled people while filming Strictly in Blackpool. The BBC declined to comment on any speculation regarding this year's series when approached by Newsquest.


BBC News
5 hours ago
- BBC News
World of Secrets The Killing Call: 3. The gangsters
Thousands from across India crowd the streets for Sidhu Moose Wala's funeral, to grieve one of Punjab's famous sons. Millions more watch. Flowers are thrown at the coffin, pulled by his favourite tractor. Amongst the grief are anger and unanswered questions– why was he not better protected? And we find out more about the world he was caught up in. Presented by broadcaster and DJ Bobby Friction and investigative journalist Ishleen Kaur. Season 8 of World of Secrets, The Killing Call, is a BBC Eye investigation for the BBC World Service. Archive audio credits: NDTV, India Today, Pun Yaab, Lovepreet Waraich, BritAsiaTV, CBC, CTV, WION


Daily Mail
6 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Huw Edwards slashes price of his £4.75million family home AGAIN and his 'divorce has been delayed'
Disgraced ex- BBC presenter Huw Edwards has reportedly been forced to delay his divorce and cannot find a buyer for his £4.75million mansion. The six-bedroom detached property in Dulwich, south London, was put on the market last October after wife Vicky Flind filed for divorce from the former TV front man. The twisted newsreader and his wife first bought the sprawling home for £1.85million in 2006, 13 years after they tied the knot. But after he pleaded guilty to making indecent images of children last July, it was reported that Ms Flind, who is the mother of Edwards' five children, split from her husband and kicked him out of the home. It is understood the mortgage on the property has been fully paid off, meaning a sale will give him a bumper pay-day of around £2million now he is without his £475,000 salary. However, the sale appears to proving more difficult than first expected due to fears the home has been blighted by Edwards' reputation, according to The Sun. There is such little interest in the house that prospective buyers are being told by property website Zoopla that they would be 'one of the first' to view the 'hidden gem', nine months after it was first listed for sale. And they have even slashed the asking price by a whopping £750,000. The six-bedroom detached property in Dulwich, south London, was put on the market last October after Edwards' wife filed for divorce Estate agents in February were willing to accept £4.5million for the property, but dwindling interest has seen this cut to £4million. In an attempt to drum up interest in the south London home, they described it as being situated 'on one of Dulwich's most desirable residential roads'. They say the house, which is kitted out with three bathrooms and three reception rooms across its 4200 sq ft, is 'a substantial detached mid-century family house' with 'exceptionally spacious living accommodation'. An extract from the listing reads: 'The ground floor has a spacious reception hall, three reception rooms, recently re-fitted kitchen/dining room, office/library, cloakroom, utility room and downstairs WC. 'On the first floor there are four double bedrooms, one with en-suite bathroom and separate dressing room and a family bathroom. 'The second floor has two double bedrooms and a bathroom. Externally to the rear there is a most delightful, mature garden.' The Sun also reported that no decree absolute had been provided to end Edwards' 32-year marriage to Ms Find as of June 5. They say it is unclear whether problems with the sale were a factor in the divorce, which was expected to have been finalised earlier this year.