Scott Mills officially took over the revered BBC Radio 2 breakfast show, succeeding Zoe Ball, and marked the occasion with an inaugural broadcast that left him feeling "really overwhelmed." Mills, a seasoned broadcaster with 25 years of experience at the BBC, embarked on this new chapter on Monday morning, much to the delight of his listeners and colleagues alike. His first show was a lively affair, featuring a live choir, special guests, and even a temporary renaming of Stockport's train station to "Scottport" in celebration.
Mills' debut on the breakfast show follows his prior role hosting the afternoon slot on Radio 2, where he stepped in for Steve Wright in 2022. The transition to mornings is a significant milestone in his career, as he joins the ranks of previous distinguished breakfast hosts such as Zoe Ball, Chris Evans, Terry Wogan, Ken Bruce, and Derek Jameson. Mills acknowledged the enormity of this legacy, stating, "If I think too much about the previous occupiers of this show, it becomes mind-blowing to me, for a kid who wanted to be on the radio but wasn't sure he had the self-confidence to be able to actually do it."
The morning's broadcast kicked off with Mills introducing "Rock DJ" by Robbie Williams as his first song choice. Williams himself called in to express gratitude for the honor. Other notable moments included a voice note from TV presenter Davina McCall wishing Mills luck and an interview with local mayor Suzanne Wyatt. Reverend Kate Bottley, a regular contributor to Pause For Thought, dialed in several times from Stockport, adding her unique perspective to the program.
"Either way, if you could make me part of your morning routine, it would honestly mean so much, because I'm going to give it absolutely everything I've got. I really hope you enjoy it." – Reverend Kate Bottley
The show also introduced travel presenter Ellie Brennan and newsreader Tina Daheley as part of its regular line-up, promising a mix of news updates and travel insights alongside Mills' engaging presence. Mills' approach to the breakfast slot centers on uplifting his audience; he shared his vision with listeners, saying, "The aim here is to make you smile, bring up your mood, to make you shoulder and head dance in the car, or in bed, or in the shower or in the kitchen, and to keep your spirits up on mornings where maybe you don't feel so great."
"Here we go then, this is the Scott Mills breakfast show on BBC Radio 2, and I can't believe I'm finally saying those words." – Scott Mills
The lively atmosphere extended beyond the studio as Stockport's train station adopted the name "Scottport" temporarily for the occasion. Meanwhile, Zoe Ball expressed her excitement for Mills' new endeavor in a heartfelt message.
"Hello you, it's me Zoe. I think I'm more excited about your first show than you will be right now." – Zoe Ball
"I keep getting really tearful. I'm so proud of you, I just need you to know that. You are so born to do this." – Zoe Ball
Throughout his first show, Mills maintained a light-hearted tone and shared humorous anecdotes with his audience. He joked about the pressures of hosting such a prestigious program.
"Remind me never to do the breakfast show." – Scott Mills
Despite these quips, Mills conveyed his dedication to making the breakfast show a staple for listeners.
"I want you to be listening every morning, and for this to be your go-to place, where you know that Radio 2 is the one that is guaranteed to lift you up, to hear something funny or interesting or a piece of music that means so much to you." – Scott Mills
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