Sara Cox has officially taken over one of Britain’s biggest radio shows—and judging by the reaction from listeners, she’s made an impressive first impression.

The 51-year-old broadcaster launched her very first BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show on Monday morning, stepping into the high-profile role following Scott Mills’ departure earlier this year.

Opening the show with Lizzo’s About Damn Time, Sara immediately brought her trademark warmth and humour to the airwaves.

“It’s The Sara Cox Breakfast Show!” she announced enthusiastically before jokingly asking listeners to send her “some love” as she settled into her new role.

Her relaxed style quickly struck a chord with fans, many of whom flooded social media with messages of support.

One listener wrote: “What a joy to wake up to Sara Cox.”

Another added: “She was brilliant covering for Scott before, and I think she’s going to absolutely smash this.”

Not everyone was ready for the change, with a few listeners admitting they still missed Scott Mills, but the overwhelming response praised Sara’s energy and natural presenting style.

Tom Hanks Gives Sara the Perfect Hollywood Send-Off

Helping mark the occasion was Hollywood legend Tom Hanks, who became Sara’s first celebrity guest.

The Oscar-winning actor delivered a playful introduction before chatting about the upcoming Toy Story 5, explaining why the new film feels especially relevant as it explores children’s growing dependence on technology and screens.

Hanks also revealed he has largely avoided smartphone addiction.

“I don’t have a web browser on my phone,” he said, explaining that keeping things simple has helped him spend more time enjoying the world around him.

During their conversation, Sara admitted that despite nearly three decades in radio, hosting the flagship breakfast programme still felt like a huge milestone.

“I’ve been doing radio for 28 years,” she told Hanks. “This isn’t my first rodeo… but it’s still a big deal.”

Hanks reassured her with advice from his own career, saying nobody truly knows what they’re doing on the first day of a new project—and joked that simply making it to day three without being fired is already a success.

A New Era for Radio 2 Breakfast

Sara’s appointment was announced earlier this year after Scott Mills was removed from the programme.

Before her debut, she said she wasn’t allowing the pressure of the role to overwhelm her.

“It’s huge, but I’m ready,” she said. “I’m not nervous because I know I can do a good job.”

Her confident but down-to-earth approach appeared to resonate with listeners, many describing her first show as fresh, upbeat and exactly the kind of start they hoped for.

With enthusiastic audience reactions, celebrity support from the likes of Gary Barlow, and a memorable first interview with Tom Hanks, Sara Cox’s Breakfast Show has begun on a strong note—marking the start of a new chapter for BBC Radio 2’s flagship morning programme.