Sara Cox Explained

Birth Name:Sara Joanne Cox
Sara Cox
Birth Date:1974 12, df=y
Birth Place:Bolton, Greater Manchester, England
Years Active:1996–present
Occupation:Television presenter, radio presenter, author
Children:3
Other Names:Sara Cox

Sara Joanne Cox (by marriage Cyzer; born 13 December 1974) is an English broadcaster and author. She presented Radio 1 Breakfast on BBC Radio 1 from 3 April 2000 until 19 December 2003.[1] Since January 2019, she hosts the BBC Radio 2 drivetime show, Monday to Friday.

Cox has also presented a number of television shows for the BBC including The Great Pottery Throw Down (2015–2017), Too Much TV (2016) and Back in Time for... (2018–2020).

Early life and career

Cox was born Sarah Joanne Cox on 13 December 1974, but later dropped the use of the letter 'h' from her first name.[2] Her parents lived in the village of Little Lever near Bolton, Greater Manchester, where she grew up on her father's farm.[3] She was the youngest of five children. Her parents separated when she was six or seven, after which she moved with her mother and a sister to another house in the same village.[4] Cox attended Smithills High School until the age of 16, and left Canon Slade School after her four A-levels[5] to pursue a career in modelling.

She appeared in the music video for Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark's 1993 single "Everyday",[6] and on a controversial promotional poster for the 1995 video game Wipeout.[7]

Cox won her first television show role in 1996, presenting The Girlie Show on Channel 4.[8] She later had stints on Channel 5 entertainment show Exclusive and Channel 4 music programme Born Sloppy. In 1997 Cox presented on the UK feed of MTV, hosting MTV Hot, a late-night music show. In 1998 Cox won her first film role in The Bitterest Pill.[9] [10]

In September 1998, Cox became a presenter of The Big Breakfast, following in the footsteps of her close friend Zoe Ball. During her time on the programme, she interviewed stars including Robbie Williams, Sting and Leonardo DiCaprio. Cox preferred to do interviews in her father's caravan, situated in The Big Breakfast garden.

BBC Radio 1

1999–2002

A transfer to radio came on 19 September 1999 when she joined BBC Radio 1. She launched the hugely popular The Surgery with Mark Hamilton, where Cox acted as "Nurse Coxy". She also co-hosted the Saturday lunchtime show with Emma B from 13:00 – 15:00

In December 1999, it was announced that Cox would again step into Zoe Ball's shoes as presenter of Radio 1 Breakfast. Cox's breakfast show stint began on 3 April 2000. Initially, her listening figures were very good, growing from 6.9 million to 7.8 million listeners during her first fifteen months in the job—earning Radio 1 its largest breakfast audience ever—higher than that of her predecessor and ex-BBC Radio 1 DJ Chris Evans. By August 2002, however, numbers had dipped back under 7 million.

2003–2008

In January 2003, Cox denied rumours that she was preparing to leave the BBC for a rival show and signed a three-year contract with the public service broadcaster, tying her to the breakfast show and with the BBC for two years after that. In August 2003, the BBC again denied rumours, reported in the Daily Mail, that she had been given 10 weeks to increase ratings, or to face replacement. However, just two months later, the BBC announced that Cox, whose listening figures had slipped to 6.6 million, would be replaced by Chris Moyles in January 2004. Cox hosted her final breakfast show on 19 December 2003.

Cox then presented the afternoon "drivetime" slot, effectively swapping shows with Chris Moyles. She hosted the Drivetime show for six months with features such as "For Your Ears Only", "Me, Myself and I", and "Chap's Eye Pub Quiz" (referring to her former sidekick Mark Chapman). In June 2004, Cox began her maternity leave to give birth. Before she returned to Radio 1 in early 2005, Scott Mills, the presenter who took over her slot during her maternity leave, was given the drivetime slot permanently.

From February 2005, Cox took over the afternoon show (13:00 – 16:00) on Saturdays and Sundays.

2008–2014

On 17 February 2008, Cox presented her last show for six months before leaving for maternity leave to have her second child. Annie Mac presented the show during her absence until Cox's return in September 2008. Cox and Annie Mac both later covered for Jo Whiley who was on maternity leave between 29 September 2008 to 20 February 2009. Following Whiley's return, Cox returned to weekends to present a Sunday mid-morning show, broadcasting between 10:00 and 13:00.

In March 2010, Cox went on maternity leave for the third time, leaving her show in the hands of the newest Radio 1 presenter, Matt Edmondson.[11] She returned to the station on 9 August 2010 to cover for Fearne Cotton for three weeks. Cox made a self-confessed unexpected return to the breakfast show on 2 and 3 September 2010, as she sat in for the unwell Chris Moyles.[12]

In August 2012, it was announced that Cox, Gemma Cairney, Huw Stephens, Jameela Jamil, Alice Levine, and Annie Mac would cover Fearne Cotton's show on BBC Radio 1 weekdays from 10:00 to 12:45, whilst Cotton was on maternity leave, until Cotton's return in September 2013.[13] [14] After Cotton's return, Cox did various cover shows; her final show for Radio 1 was on 17 February 2014.

BBC Radio 2

In June 2011, Cox began hosting the fourth series of the comedy programme Hot Gossip on BBC Radio 2, covering for Claudia Winkleman, who chose not to present the series as she was heavily pregnant at the time.[15] In 2012, Cox covered for Alex Lester, the late Janice Long, Ken Bruce, and Vanessa Feltz, as well as providing cover for Simon Mayo Drivetime and Steve Wright in the Afternoon.

Also between 2012 and 2018, she was the stand-in of The Radio 2 Breakfast Show covering for Chris Evans.

Cox joined BBC Radio 2 for her first regular show each Saturday night from 22:00 to midnight, presenting a 1980s decade show Sounds of the 80s to complement the weekend 1960s and 1970s decade shows. The show began on Saturday 5 October 2013.[16] The show moved to Friday nights from April 2016.

Between 14 May 2018 and 13 December 2018, Cox began a new late-night show on Radio 2; the show ran from Monday to Thursday between 22:00 to midnight. She was replaced as host of Sounds of the 80s by Gary Davies; Cox presented her final edition of the show on 11 May 2018.[17]

On 29 October 2018, it was announced that Cox would succeed Simon Mayo as drivetime presenter on 14 January 2019.[18]

On 1 July 2022, it was announced that, in September, Cox would extend her drivetime show by an hour to run from 4–7pm to coincide with Scott Mills joining the station on a permanent basis to present from 2–4pm.[19]

Television

In July 2007, Cox presented London Live on Channel 4, and appeared as a guest star on the Sky1 show Angela and Friends in November 2009[20] and as guest presenter in January 2010.[21] Also in 2010, she appeared as a team captain on What Do Kids Know? along with Rufus Hound and Joe Swash on the Watch channel.[22]

Cox commentated for the semi-finals of the Eurovision Song Contest on BBC Three with fellow BBC Radio 1 DJ Scott Mills[23] at the 2011 Contest and 2012 Contest, and again in 2021 as a late stand-in for Rylan Clark.[24] Cox was replaced by Ana Matronic starting from the 2013 Contest.[25]

On 21 October 2014, Cox guest presented a Children in Need episode of The Great British Sewing Bee.[26]

In April 2015, it was announced that Cox would present The Great Pottery Throw Down for BBC Two. The first series began in November 2015 and the second in February 2017.[27]

In 2016 Cox co-presenting Too Much TV, a daily magazine show on BBC Two.[28]

In 2017, Cox appeared on Dara O Briain's Go 8 Bit and was on Steve's team in the show. She lost the episode in terms of points.[29] On 4 June 2017, Cox co-presented the One Love Manchester benefit concert special and British television special with Ore Oduba.

Since 2018, Cox has co-presented Back in Time for..., where a modern-day family enjoy meals that were eaten by families of years gone by. She replaced Giles Coren.[30] From May 2018, Cox presents Love in the Countryside for BBC Two.[31]

On 5 March 2019, it was announced that Cox would host a new ITV show, entitled The Sara Cox Show, which would feature entertainment, live music and celebrity guests and which would air on Saturday and Sunday mornings.[32]

In October 2020, Cox launched and presented Between the Covers on BBC Two, a seven-episode book programme, renewing for five series, as of December 2022.[33]

Books

In March 2019 her book Till the Cows Come Home: A Lancashire Childhood, a memoir of growing up in 1980s Lancashire, was published by Coronet Books.[34]

Her debut novel Thrown was published in May 2022. Her second novel Way Back was published in March 2024.

Personal life

Family

Cox married the DJ Jon Carter in October 2001.[35] Their daughter was born on 13 June 2004.[36] In December 2005, the couple announced their divorce.[37]

On 16 September 2007, Cox announced, on her BBC Radio 1 weekend show, that she was expecting her second child.[38] Cox's last weekend show was on Sunday 17 February 2008 before she left for six months' maternity leave. Her second child, a boy, was born on 10 March 2008.[39] She returned to Radio 1 in September 2008. Cox went on maternity leave for the third time, after her show on 7 March 2010. Less than a week later, on 12 March, she announced that she had given birth to a girl.

On 23 June 2013, Cox tweeted a picture to announce she had just married her long-term boyfriend and fiancé Ben Cyzer.[40]

Advocacy

Cox says that she is committed to protecting the environment. In 2009 she joined the project in a bid to help her reduce her carbon footprint. She explained that, as she was brought up on a farm, she has no problem wearing extra layers instead of turning up the thermostat. Giving up meat was for her a different story, however, saying: "My dad is a beef farmer so he wouldn't be best pleased. I tried going veggie once, but it lasted about four hours."[41]

In August 2014 Cox was one of 200 public figures who were signatories to a letter to The Guardian opposing Scottish independence in the run-up to September's referendum on that issue.[42] She revealed, when taking part in a one-off celebrity special of The Crystal Maze, that she had voted against Brexit in 2016.[43]

Privacy

In June 2003, Cox and her ex-husband Jon received £50,000 in an out-of-court settlement from the British newspaper The People after it printed photographs of her sunbathing naked on her honeymoon in 2001. Cox, who was photographed with a telephoto lens while on a private island, initially complained to the Press Complaints Commission, who found in her favour. The People printed an apology. Cox was unsatisfied, and sued the newspaper in the High Court for a breach of her right to privacy under the Human Rights Act.

The People agreed to an out of court settlement with Cox and her ex-husband before any judgement was made. Cox received £30,000 and he £20,000, The People also agreed to pay the couple's legal costs, reported to be in excess of £100,000.[44] [45]

Stalking incident

In July 2017 a convicted child sex offender named Anthony Collins was convicted of stalking Cox, after sending her and her husband Ben a series of letters. He had sent the letters to her home address, which he reportedly obtained after purchasing the address for £17. He subsequently pleaded guilty to harassment and was sentenced to 16 months in prison.[46] [47] [48]

Charitable activity

Cox was one of 52 celebrities contributing to a children's story entitled Once Upon a Time[49] to promote a new charity directory inquiries number 118 520. The book will be auctioned with the profits going to the NSPCC. Cox is also a named supporter of the animal charity PDSA, and has promoted the charity by being photographed[50] with her pet dog, Snoop, by the late Lord Lichfield.Cox and other celebrities entered the women's race (The Magnolia Cup) fundraising for the charity Great Ormond Street at Glorious Goodwood on 28 July 2011. She came ninth.

Cox has also been an ambassador for Centrepoint—the UK's charity for homeless young people—since 2000, making her its longest serving celebrity supporter.[51] She takes part in the charity's flagship fundraising event, Sleep Out, every year, sleeping outside in a London location with around 800 other fundraisers. She also gives her time to Centrepoint for other events, messages of support and fundraising promotions.

In 2006, Cox participated as a celebrity showjumper in the BBC's Sport Relief event Only Fools on Horses.[52]

From 09:30 on 20 March 2017 to 09:30 on 21 March 2017, Cox did a 24-hour danceathon on her own on BBC Radio 2, raising money for Comic Relief, Red Nose Day. She raised over £800,000 for Red Nose Day according to the commentary on television and the newspaper Manchester Evening News.[53]

Awards and honours

In November 2006, Cox was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Bolton for contributions to broadcasting.[54]

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1996–1997The Girlie ShowCo-presenter
2006HustleHerselfCameo role
2007The Album Chart ShowPresenter
2009, 2010Angela and FriendsGuest appearance/guest presenterCameo role
2009The BRIT Awards: Red CarpetCo-presenter
2010What Do Kids Know? Team captain
2011Eurovision Song Contest 2011UK CommentatorSemi Finals
2012Eurovision Song Contest 2012
2013Never Mind the Buzzcocks Guest presenter 1 episode
2014The Great Children in Need Sewing Bee Presenter
2015–2017The Great Pottery Throw Down Presenter 2 series
2016Too Much TV Co-presenter 1 series
Britain's Most Spectacular Backyard Builds Co-presenter 1 series
2017One Love Manchester Co-presenterTelevision coverage
Children in Need Rocks the 80s Co-presenter
Tipping Point : Lucky StarsContestant1 episode (Season 4, Episode 2)
2018Britain's Favourite Dogs: Top 100 Co-presenterOne-off special
2018–2020Back in Time for...Presenter2 series
Love in the CountrysidePresenter1 series; 1 upcoming
2018The Big NHS SingalongCo-presenterOne-off special
This MorningGuest presenter
2019The Sara Cox ShowPresenter
2020–presentBetween the CoversPresenter2 series
2021Eurovision Song Contest 2021UK Commentator (stand in)Semi Finals
2021–presentMorning LivePresenter
2022Britain's Top Takeaways[55] Co-presenterWith Darren Harriott
2023Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway: Behind DoorsNarrator
2024The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up To CancerHerself / contestantOne Episode[56]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Digital Spy: Sara Cox presents final BBC Radio 1 show as Chris Moyles pays tribute
  2. http://content.ancestry.co.uk/iexec/?htx=List&dbid=8964&offerid=0%3a7858%3a0 England & Wales, Birth Index: 1837–1983
  3. Web site: DJ Sara Cox furious after 'gang of young idiots' set fire at dad's farm. Alexandra. Rucki. 4 February 2019. men. 9 March 2019.
  4. News: Garratt . Sheryl . 24 June 2001 . Vox Cox . The Observer . 29 October 2018.
  5. Manchester Evening News Saturday 21 August 1993 page 14
  6. Web site: 'I didn't eat during my twenties': Sara Cox confesses what she did to stay skinny. Willis. Tania. 17 February 2015. OK!. 11 May 2019.
  7. Web site: WipEout: The rise and fall of Sony Studio Liverpool. Wesley. Yin-Poole. . 30 November 2014.
  8. Web site: BBC Cult – I Love 1996 . 11 March 2008.
  9. Web site: Sara Cox – Presenters . Troikatalent.com . 9 March 2011 . 8 April 2009 . https://web.archive.org/web/20090408060106/http://www.troikatalent.com/MR/Cox_Sara.htm . dead .
  10. Web site: The Bitterest Pill . https://archive.today/20070811182108/http://www.britfilms.com/britishfilms/catalogue/browse/?id=D5FD9B420eeaf2E8F2sMpSCEEA44 . dead . 11 August 2007 . Britfilms.com . 20 February 2007 . 9 March 2011.
  11. Web site: Press Office – Matt Edmondson to cover for Sara Cox on BBC Radio 1 . BBC . 4 June 2012.
  12. Web site: Thursday – Sara Cox sits in for Chris, The Chris Moyles Show – BBC Radio 1. BBC. 23 August 2018.
  13. Web site: BBC Newsbeat Sara Cox to fill in for Fearne Cotton on Radio 1 show . BBC Newsbeat . 10 August 2012 . 6 September 2012.
  14. Web site: James Gill . Sara Cox to cover Fearne Cotton Radio 1 maternity leave . Radio Times . 10 August 2012 . 6 September 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130101130240/http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2012-08-10/sara-cox-to-cover-fearne-cotton-radio-1-maternity-leave . 1 January 2013 .
  15. Web site: Radio 2 Programmes – Hot Gossip, Series 4, Episode 1 . BBC . 25 June 2011 . 4 June 2012.
  16. News: Radio star Sara Cox dreamed of marrying George Michael.. now she can't wait to host new show celebrating the 80s . Daily Record . Steve . Hendry . 29 September 2013 . 6 October 2013.
  17. News: Women take over top shows in Radio 2 revamp . Matthew . Moore . 11 January 2018 . The Times . 3 January 2022.
  18. Web site: Sara Cox to present new weekday Drivetime show on Radio 2, Trevor Nelson to present 10pm-midnight show. BBC Media Centre. 28 October 2018. 29 October 2018.
  19. Web site: BBC Radio 2 Autumn Schedule Changes . 2022-07-02 . www.bbc.co.uk . en.
  20. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1556276/fullcredits#cast "Angela and Friends cast list"
  21. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1584952/fullcredits#cast "Angela and Friends cast list"
  22. http://uktv.co.uk/watch/homepage/sid/8113 "What Do Kids Know?"
  23. Web site: BBC Press Office . Sara Cox and Scott Mills front Eurovision semi-finals exclusively on BBC Three . 21 April 2011. 10 May 2011.
  24. Web site: Grocott. Matthew. 17 May 2021. Sara Cox replaces Rylan Clark Neal as UK Semi Final commentator. 2021-06-01. ESCBubble. en-GB.
  25. Web site: ESCXTRA . United Kingdom: Ana Matronic replaces Sara Cox . 7 March 2013 . 7 March 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140116113411/http://escxtra.com/2013/03/ana-matronic-replaces-sara-cox/ . 16 January 2014 .
  26. Web site: The BBC Children in Need Sewing Bee on BBC2 tonight with Hairy Biker Dave Myers, DJ Edith Bowman, Dr Dawn Harper from Embarrassing Bodies, Wendi Peters & Jenny Eclair | Scunthorpe Telegraph . 22 October 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20141106180027/http://www.scunthorpetelegraph.co.uk/BBC-Children-Need-Sewing-Bee-BBC2-tonight-Hairy/story-23311053-detail/story.html . 6 November 2014 .
  27. Web site: The Great British Pottery Throw Down is coming. . 21 April 2015.
  28. Web site: Emma Bunton, Sara Cox to host BBC Two's live telly show. . 13 February 2016.
  29. Page of show shows points of each episode and who won each episode.
  30. Web site: BBC – Sara Cox takes Bradford family Back in Time For Tea as BBC Two series returns – Media Centre. BBC.
  31. Web site: BBC – Sara Cox to present Love in the Countryside for BBC Two – Media Centre. BBC.
  32. Web site: Sara Cox to host ITV weekend show. 5 March 2019. BBC.
  33. Web site: Between the Covers . . BBC . 14 December 2022.
  34. Book: Sara Cox – Till the Cows Come Home – Hodder & Stoughton. 9781473672710. 9 March 2019. hodder.co.uk. Cox. Sara. 7 March 2019. Hodder & Stoughton .
  35. Web site: Caine 'in talks' for Austin Powers 3 . BBC News . 5 October 2001 . 29 October 2018.
  36. Web site: Sara Cox gives birth to baby girl . BBC News . 14 June 2004 . 29 October 2018.
  37. News: Sara Cox Exclusive . 3am . . 25 July 2007 . 19 December 2012.
  38. News: Radio 1 host Cox expecting baby . BBC News . 15 September 2007 . 4 January 2010 . London.
  39. News: Baby boy for Radio 1's Sara Cox . 12 March 2008 . BBC News . 11 March 2008 . London.
  40. Web site: Celebrity Wedding – Radio DJ Sara Cox Secretly Marries Boyfriend Ben Cyzer. andbag.com . 24 June 2013.
  41. Web site: Case study: Sara Cox | 10:10 . 1010global.org . 4 June 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120607015606/http://www.1010global.org/uk/case-studies/case-study-sara-cox . 7 June 2012 .
  42. Web site: Celebrities' open letter to Scotland – full text and list of signatories | Politics . The Guardian . 7 August 2014 . 26 August 2014.
  43. Web site: The Crystal Maze October 2016 . Channel 4. 16 October 2016 . 17 July 2017.
  44. News: Cox privacy case 'a watershed' . BBC News . 7 June 2003 . 23 May 2010.
  45. News: Privacy law remains confused . BBC News . 9 June 2003 . 23 May 2010.
  46. News: Man jailed for stalking Radio 2 DJ Sara Cox. 24 July 2017. BBC News. 24 July 2017.
  47. Web site: Sara Cox stalker jailed. 24 July 2017.
  48. Web site: Stalker jailed for sending disturbing letters to Radio 2 DJ Sara Cox. 24 July 2017.
  49. http://www.cafonline.org/default.aspx?page=15179 "Sara Cox to contribute to a children’s story to promote a new charity directory number 118 520"
  50. http://www.pdsa.org.uk/celebritysupporters_3.html "PDSA Celebrity supporters"
  51. Web site: Our ambassadors.
  52. Web site: BBC – Radio 1 – Sara Cox – biography. BBC. BBC. 23 August 2018.
  53. News: Sara Cox finishes her 24-hour Danceathon for Comic Relief & raises over £800,000. Manchester Evening News. 21 March 2017. Holly. O'Rourke.
  54. News: University announces winter Honorary Doctorates. University of Bolton. 24 November 2006.
  55. Web site: Britain's Top Takeaways. bbc.co.uk. 3 May 2022.
  56. Web site: The Great Stand Up to Cancer Bake Off. thegreatbritishbakeoff.co.uk. 5 February 2024 . 18 March 2024.