Sara Cox is to take over from Simon Mayo and Jo Whiley as presenter of the BBC Radio 2 Drivetime show.
The appointment comes after Mayo, the voice of Drivetime for eight years, announced he was stepping down after a new co-presenting format was imposed on him by the BBC in May. Whiley will remain with the station but move to a 7pm to 9pm slot from January.
Bolton-born Cox said: “I’ve been proud to be part of the Radio 2 family for a few years now and the opportunity to present such a big show as Drivetime – playing fantastic music and hopefully making people smile as they cook tea or head home after a day’s graft – is the icing on what is already a very brilliant cake.
“I’m beyond chuffed to be given this role and to directly quote my mum on hearing the good news, it is indeed ‘fandabbyruddydozy’.”
Lewis Carnie, head of Radio 2, added: “Sara is hugely popular with the Radio 2 audience and I have every confidence that she’ll make the new Drivetime show her very own.”
The BBC has not yet announced when Cox, whose currently presents Radio 2’s 10pm to midnight show on Monday to Thursday, will begin presenting Drivetime.
Trevor Nelson takes over that slot, moving from 8pm to 10pm on Saturday night. He will also continue to present on BBC Radio 1 Xtra. The station added Whiley as a Drivetime co-host in May, leading to a big backlash from the audience. Her addition came after Radio 2 was criticised for its lack of female presenters.
