Scott Mills arrives at Radio 2 as he takes over from Zoe Ball
SCOTT Mills flashed a smile as he arrived at the BBC Radio 2 studios for his first day hosting the Breakfast Show permanently.
The former BBC Radio 1 anchor looked cheery amid his fresh start at the station – after popular broadcaster Zoe Ball revealed she was quitting last year.
Scott, 51, wore a trendy green jacket with a black striped trim around the wrists.
He paired it with black jeans, a T-Shirt and trainers, carring a huge black duffle bag in his left hand.
The fan-favourite presenter also clutched his BBC Radio 2 pass in his hand as he stood outside the White City Studios.
During his first show as permanent Breakfast host – after covering for Zoe on the eye-wateringly early programme a number of times – he vowed he would “give it absolutely everything.”
After playing his first hit, Robbie Williams track Rock DJ, Scott told channel’s listeners: “I’ve worked at the BBC for 25 years now, on the radio, a lot of you may well have grown up listening to me.
“I’m sure a lot of you will not have much idea about me at all.
“Either way, if you could make me part of your morning routine, it would honestly mean so much because, believe me, I’m going to give it absolutely everything I’ve got.
“I really hope you enjoy it. Let’s go.”
He then excitedly added: “This might be the best day of my life, apart from getting married.”
ALL CHANGE
Zoe revealed her decision to leave the show back in November, after a whopping six years in the hotseat.
She told how she planned to “focus on my family.”
Yet the mum of one told how she will remain on BBC Radio 2 – teasing an announcement in the new year.
She said: “After six incredible years on the Radio 2 Breakfast Show, it’s time for me to step away from the very early mornings and focus on family.”
Telling her listeners about her decision, she said: “I’ve decided it’s time to step away from the early alarm call and start a new chapter.
Zoe Ball's career so far
Zoe was born in Blackpool and is daughter of the children’s TV presenter Johnny Ball and his wife Julia.
She appeared on television at a young age as part of the studio audience of the Saturday morning children’s show, Saturday Superstore when her father was a guest.
The star began her career in broadcasting as a presenter on the pre-school programme Playdays.
After various behind the scenes roles, she earned a spot as a regular host of Top of the Pops, when she alternated with the likes of Jayne Middlemiss and Jo Whiley.
In 1996, she was chosen to front BBC One‘s saturday morning show Live & Kicking, which led to stints on The Big Breakfast on Channel 4.
But she maintained a huge presence on the radio as she was chosen to be the co-host of BBC Radio 1 Breakfast alongside Kevin Greening in October 1997.
Zoe was later appointed the sole host of the show in a groundbreaking move by the corporation as she was the first female DJ to hold the post.
The presenter chose to leave the station in March 2000 to start a family, where she was succeeded by Sara Cox.
As a mainstream face in TV through the noughties, she hosted a range of huge programmes for ITV, including the Brit Awards in 2002, Extinct in 2006, and both Soapstar Superstar and Grease Is The Word in 2007.
In mid-2002, she returned to radio when she joined Xfm (later known as Radio X), when she was the voice of the weekday drivetime show until December 2003. In 2004, she stood in for Ricky Gervais while he filmed the second series of The Office.
In October 2005, she appeared as a contestant on the third series of Strictly Come Dancing, where she was partnered with Ian Waite, The star impressed viewers with her footwork and the duo waltzed into third place.
In 2011, she returned to the franchise as she took over as the host of the magazine spin-off show, It Takes Two.
She also filled in for Claudia Winkleman on the main show in 2014, when The Traitors star took leave after her daughter suffered serious burn injuries.
After 10 years fronting the show, Zoe announced she was quitting her role on BBC Two in May 2021.
Zoe’s journey in BBC Radio 2 started in 2006 when she fronted specialist documentaries. Over the years she sat in for names such as Dermot O’Leary, Ken Bruce and Chris Evans.
After several shake-ups, she returned to the station on a permanent basis when she took over Dermot’s Saturday afternoon slot between 3pm and 6pm.
In October 2018, Chris Evans moved to Virgin Radio and he personally announced that Zoe would take over his popular slot. She started presenting the breakfast show on 14 January 2019.
“We’ve shared a hell of a lot, the good times, the tough times, there’s been a lot of laughter. And I am going to miss you cats.”
She added she would also miss her colleagues, saying they were “like family to me”.
The early morning presenter added: “But I won’t miss the 4am alarm call, if I’m completely honest.
“You know I love you all to bits.”
She then made her final farewell to the show on December 20.
Later in November, Scott broke his silence after his career switch was revealed.
Meanwhile, it was revealed how DJ Trevor Nelson would be taking on Scott’s Radio 2 afternoon slot.
SHOCK REVEAL
The broadcaster also told how he had almost been sacked by the BBC in a shock move.
Scott has worked for the Beeb since 1998, and was previously known for Radio 1.
Speaking to Dermot O’Leary, he revealed how a boozy night out at the Brits almost got him sacked from his job.
It came after Dermot played a clip of Scott slurring his words on his early morning Radio 1 show in 2001.
After hearing the clip, the new Radio 2 Breakfast Show star said: “That’s called how to really nearly lose your job at BBC.
“I had got carried away so much at the Brit Awards, because I had never been there before, and time just fast-forwarded, and somebody went, what time are you on air?
And I said, ‘Four?’ and they went, ‘Well, it’s two now’. Oh no!
“It was horrendous.”