Channel 2 breakfast host 'overwhelmed' on his first show

Scott Mills welcomed listeners to his first BBC Radio 2 breakfast show on Monday, telling listeners it was “a bit overwhelming”.

The broadcaster takes over the prestigious seat from Zoe Ball, who resigned last month after six years as presenter.

“As a radio host and a lifelong radio fan, I honestly still find it hard to accept that this is happening,” Mills told the audience in his opening remarks.

He joked that when he introduced Robbie Williams' rock DJ to officially kick off the show, everyone was guessing what his first song would be.

“Here we go, this is Scott Mills Breakfast on BBC Radio 2 and I can't believe I'm finally saying these words,” he said.

“I've been working in BBC Radio for 25 years. Many of you may have grown up listening to me and I'm sure many of you don't know much about me at all.

“Anyway, if you can make me a part of your morning routine, it honestly would mean a lot because I'm going to give it my all. I really hope you enjoy it.”

Mills follows in the footsteps of previous Radio 2 breakfast hosts Ball, Chris Evans, Terry Wogan, Ken Bruce and Derek Jameson.

“If I thought too much about the previous occupants of the show, it would be shocking to me because I was a kid who wanted to be on radio but wasn't sure I had the confidence to actually do it,” Mills reflected.

“The aim here is to make you smile, lift your mood, get you dancing in the car, in bed, in the shower or in the kitchen, get your shoulders and head dancing, and keep you pumped up in the morning. It doesn't feel good. “

Mills joins Radio 2's weekday schedule in 2022, replacing Steve Wright as afternoon presenter.

Prior to that, he worked at Radio 1 for almost thirty years and presented weekend shows on 5 Live.

The host told listeners on Monday that he wanted to “make this a show that I really hope you guys enjoy and look forward to every day.”

Other on-air voices on the breakfast show include travel presenter Ellie Brennan, while newsreader Tina Daheley, who has appeared on Youzo BBC Breakfast Radio presented by Zoe Ball, Chris Moyles, Nick Grimshaw and Trevor Nelson.

Several listeners recalled comments Mills made last year, saying: “Remind me to never do a breakfast show.”

Recalling his comments on Monday, Mills explained: “It was something I said on Race Around the World when we had to get up early and get stuff done.

“Ellie just bought me a card with a real-life scene from Race Around the World. Things have changed, you know?”

The breakfast show is regarded as the most prestigious flagship program in a radio station's programme.

However, as far as Radio 2 is concerned, it is not the most listened to program at the moment.

The honor was taken by the mid-morning show, currently hosted by Vernon Kay, who will succeed Ken Bruce in 2023.

Kay and Mills are two of several DJs drawn to the station from Radio 1 as bosses update their schedule.

Radio 2's weekday schedule now also features programs from Nelson, Sara Cox and Jo Whiley, similar to the Radio 1 schedule in the 1910s.

But not all former Radio 1 DJs automatically move to Radio 2. Moyles now presents the breakfast show on Radio X, while Grimshaw recently took over the BBC Radio 6 music breakfast show.

Speaking about his ambitions for the Radio 2 breakfast show, Mills told listeners: “I want you to tune in every morning and make this a regular place for you, a place where you know you will be entertained by Radio 2 Get up and listen to something interesting or a piece of music that means a lot to you.”

TV host Davina McCall sent a voice message wishing Mills good luck, and Williams called the station to thank the DJ for choosing to open the show with one of his songs.

Songs by Whitney Houston, The Beatles, Kylie Minogue, The Doobie Brothers, Madonna, Chappelle Rowan, Midnight Train, Cher and Rufus, and Chaka Khan were also on his list. Appeared in a show.

Mills played voice messages from well-wishers including Linda Rands, a retired opera singer who became an audience favorite in the latest series of “Traitors.”