Sara Cox, host of Radio 2's Breakfast Show, revealed she is the "proud mother of a queer daughter" during a conversation with singer Sam Smith. The discussion, which touched upon LGBTQ parenting, occurred as Smith promoted their new single "Oh Mother," an ode to their own mother.
Smith, who is non-binary and uses they/them pronouns, expressed a strong relationship with their mother and noted that queer children often share this bond with their parents. Cox then interjected with her personal revelation. Smith, engaged to fashion designer Christian Cowan, also shared aspirations of starting a family, stating they feel a growing maternal instinct and a desire to have children in the future.
Cox is a mother to three children: Lola, 22, Isaac, 18, and Renee, 16. She shares Lola with ex-partner Jon Carter and her younger two children with husband Ben Cyzer. She did not specify which of her daughters is queer. Cox has previously spoken about the challenges of balancing a career with motherhood, noting the initial uncertainty after maternity leave and the feeling of taking a step back professionally. She mentioned having a strong support system with her husband for her younger children's births, which facilitated her return to work.
She also discussed the importance of setting boundaries in parenting, stating a preference against being overly familiar with her children, likening it to friendships seen in tabloids. However, she values shared enjoyable experiences, recalling a positive outing to a Beyoncé concert with her children.
Currently, Cox's youngest two children reside at home, while her eldest, Lola, is attending university to study art. Cox shared that she was at peace with Lola's decision to move out, acknowledging her daughter's readiness for independence. She humorously described her reaction to dropping Lola off at college as celebratory and her relationship with her daughter as one where they both appreciate personal space, comparing it to her own relationship with her mother.
Cox co-hosts a podcast titled "The Teen Commandments" with Clare Hamilton, where she discusses parenting. She described her current parenting phase as being on the "home stretch," feeling close to the end of her active childcare responsibilities.