BBC Radio 2 Staff Uncomfortable with Sara Cox's On-Air Practices
Insiders report a tense atmosphere due to host's habit of publicly calling out mistakes.
Staff at BBC Radio 2 have expressed feelings of discomfort and being on edge due to host Sara Cox's on-air practice of naming individuals when mistakes occur, according to reports.
Insiders who have worked with Cox, who took over the coveted Breakfast Show slot in July, described the atmosphere as tense. "A lot of studio managers and technicians don't like working on the show with her," a source told the Mail. "Everybody is on edge because she keeps pulling people up when there is a mistake that goes out on air and then throwing them under the bus, it's unfair and not part of the team spirit."
An old recording from August reportedly captured Cox singling out a producer named Anthony during a live show. While addressing a travel presenter, Cox's comments extended to the control room, calling out, "That's your cue Anthony, to come in! It's not a spectator sport this love, you know, you can come and get it." She sarcastically added, "Now if you were at the handover with Vernon that went perfectly last week, you'll know the name Anthony because that came up."
Despite Cox punctuating the exchange with laughter, insiders stated the team felt "very uncomfortable." Another source noted, "Staff felt like she could have gone on and owned it a bit and had a joke, but she had to make a point it wasn't her." This is contrasted with previous hosts like Zoe Ball and Scott Mills, who would reportedly joke about their own errors or blame themselves rather than other staff members.
Cox took over the Breakfast Show following the dismissal of Scott Mills in April. Mills, a veteran presenter, was removed from the flagship show after 14 months amid historical allegations of serious sexual assault. While police investigated the allegations in 2018 and the Crown Prosecution Service dismissed them in 2019, Mills has since launched legal action against the BBC for unfair dismissal.
Sources also suggested that Cox's song choices for her first show in July were perceived as insensitive by some employees, given the recent circumstances of Scott Mills's departure. The pair had reportedly been close friends for 30 years. Employees expressed sadness and a sense of loss, particularly as they felt they had not been given an opportunity to say goodbye to Mills.
Cox, who has been with the BBC for 26 years and previously hosted the Drivetime slot for seven years, first began at BBC Radio 1 in 1999. She joined Radio 2 in 2011. It is an open secret at the station that Cox had long aspired to host the Breakfast Show, having been passed over twice before, first for Zoe Ball and then for Scott Mills.
When Zoe Ball was initially given the Breakfast slot, Cox played Shaggy's song "It Wasn't Me" on her show. Ball has since moved to rival station Greatest Hits.
A BBC spokesperson commented on the situation, stating, "Live radio is at its best when it feels spontaneous and real, and this was simply a lighthearted, on-air moment between colleagues. Sara's warm, lively presenting style and great relationship with the breakfast team are genuine - and that authentic chemistry is exactly what our millions of listeners tune in for every weekday morning."