Mills ‘overwhelmed’ on first Radio 2 breakfast show

Scott Mills welcomed listeners to his first BBC Radio 2 breakfast show on Monday, telling listeners it was “all a bit heavy”.

The broadcaster takes over the coveted slot from Zoe Ball, who stood down from last month after six years hosting.

“As a radio presenter, and radio fan my whole life, I still find it quite difficult to process that this is happening if I’m honest,” Mills told listeners in his opening link.

She joked that everyone was guessing what her first song would be, as she formally opened the show by introducing Rock DJ by Robbie Williams.

“Here we go then, it’s the Scott Mills Breakfast Show on BBC Radio 2, and I can’t believe I’m finally saying those words,” he said.

“I worked at the BBC for 25 years, in radio. Many of you will have grown up listening to me, I’m sure many of you won’t have much idea of ​​me.

“Any way, if you could make me a part of your morning routine, it would honestly mean a lot, because I’m going to give it absolutely everything I’ve got. I really hope That you’ll enjoy it.”

Mills follows in the footsteps of previous Radio 2 Breakfast hosts Ball, Chris Evans, Terry Wogan, Ken Bruce and Derek Jameson.

“If I think too much about the show’s previous occupants, it becomes mind-blowing to me, to a kid who wanted to be on the radio but wasn’t sure what his Had the confidence to really be able to do that,” Mills reflected.

“The purpose here is to make you smile, bring up your mood, make you dance shoulders and heads in the car, or in bed, or in the shower, or in the kitchen, and to keep your spirits up in the morning not feeling so great.”

Mills joined Radio 2’s weekday schedule in 2022, replacing Steve Wright as host of the afternoon slot.

Before that, he worked at Radio 1 for almost three decades and also hosted a weekend show on 5 Live.

The presenter told listeners on Monday that he wanted to “make this show something that I really hope you look forward to every day”.

Other on-air voices of the breakfast show include travel presenter Ellie Brennan, while Tina Dahle, who previously appeared on the BBC Breakfast radio show hosted by Zoe Ball, Chris Moyles, Nick Grimshaw and Trevor Nelson, is the newsreader.

Many listeners recalled a comment Mills made last year, where he said: “Remind me to never do the breakfast show.”

Recalling the comment on Monday, Mills explained: “It was something I said once in the race around the world when we had to get up early to do things.

“Ellie just got me a card and on the front of it is the actual scene from the race around the world. Things have changed, you know?”

The breakfast show is seen as the most prestigious flagship program in a radio station’s schedule.

However, in the case of Radio 2, it is not currently the most listened to program on the schedule.

That accolade is held by the mid-morning show, which is currently hosted by Vernon Kay, who took over from Ken Bruce in 2023.

Kay and Mills are two of several DJs who have taken over the station from Radio 1 as owners refreshed the schedule.

Radio 2’s weekday schedule now also includes Nelson, Sara Cox and Jo Whilens, resembling Nagy’s Radio 1 schedule.

But not all former Radio 1 DJs automatically move to Radio 2. Moyles now hosts breakfast on Radio X, while Grimshaw most recently took over the BBC Radio 6 Music breakfast show.

Discussing his goals for the Radio 2 Breakfast show, Mills told listeners: “I want you to listen every morning, and for it to be your place, where you know Radio 2 is the one that’s guaranteed to wake you up.” is up, to hear something fun or interesting or a piece of music that means a lot to you.”

Mills played voice notes from Well Wishers, including Linda Rands, a retired opera singer who became an audience favorite in the most recent series of Traitors.