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Sara Cox

For other people named Sara Cox, seeSara Cox (disambiguation).

Sara Joanne Cryzer(néeCoxborn 13 December 1974), better known asSara Cox,is an English broadcaster and author. A presenter onBBC Radio 2,she has been hosting the station's drivetime show since January 2019. She previously presentedBBC Radio 1'sbreakfast showfrom April 2000 until December 2003.[1]

Sara Cox
Cox atManchester Fashion Week,
October 2007
Born
Sara Joanne Cox

(1974-12-13)13 December 1974(age 50)
Bolton, Greater Manchester,England
Other namesSara Cox
Occupation(s)Television presenter, radio presenter, author
Years active1996–present
Spouses
​
​
(m.2001;div.2005)​
Ben Cyzer
​
(m.2013)​
Children3
Websitewww.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0b25n9hEdit this at Wikidata

Cox has also presented a number of television shows for theBBCincludingThe Great Pottery Throw Down(2015–2017),Too Much TV(2016) andBack in Time for...(2018–2020).

Early life and career

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Cox was born Sarah Joanne Cox on 13 December 1974, but later dropped the use of the letter 'h' from her first name.[2][better source needed]Her parents lived in the village ofLittle LevernearBolton,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 attendedSmithills High Schooluntil the age of 16, and leftCanon Slade Schoolafter her fourA-levels[5]to pursue a career in modelling.

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

Cox won her first television show role in 1996, presentingThe Girlie ShowonChannel 4.[8]She later had stints onChannel 5entertainment showExclusiveand Channel 4 music programmeBorn Sloppy.In 1997 Cox presented on the UK feed of MTV, hostingMTV Hot,a late-night music show. In 1998 Cox won her first film role inThe Bitterest Pill.[9][10]

In September 1998, Cox became a presenter ofThe Big Breakfast,following in the footsteps of her close friendZoe Ball.[citation needed]During her time on the programme, she interviewed stars includingRobbie Williams,StingandLeonardo DiCaprio.Cox preferred to do interviews in her father's caravan, situated inThe Big Breakfastgarden.[citation needed]

BBC Radio 1

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1999–2002

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A transfer to radio came on 19 September 1999 when she joinedBBC Radio 1.She launched the hugely popularThe SurgerywithMark Hamilton,where Cox acted as "Nurse Coxy". She also co-hosted the Saturday lunchtime show withEmma Bfrom 13:00 – 15:00

In December 1999, it was announced that Cox would again step intoZoe Ball's shoes as presenter ofRadio 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 1DJChris Evans.By August 2002, however, numbers had dipped back under 7 million.[citation needed]

2003–2008

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In January 2003, Cox denied rumours that she was preparing to leave theBBCfor 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.[citation needed]In August 2003, the BBC again denied rumours, reported in theDaily Mail,that she had been given 10 weeks to increase ratings, or to face replacement.[citation needed]However, just two months later, the BBC announced that Cox, whose listening figures had slipped to 6.6 million, would be replaced byChris Moylesin January 2004. Cox hosted her final breakfast show on 19 December 2003.[citation needed]

Cox then presented the afternoon "drivetime" slot, effectively swapping shows withChris 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 sidekickMark Chapman).[citation needed]In June 2004, Cox began hermaternity leaveto give birth.[citation needed]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.[citation needed]

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

2008–2014

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

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 forFearne Cottonfor 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 unwellChris Moyles.[12]

In August 2012, it was announced that Cox,Gemma Cairney,Huw Stephens,Jameela Jamil,Alice Levine,and Annie Mac would coverFearne 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.[citation needed]

BBC Radio 2

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In June 2011, Cox began hosting the fourth series of the comedy programmeHot GossiponBBC Radio 2,covering forClaudia Winkleman,who chose not to present the series as she was heavily pregnant at the time.[15]In 2012, Cox covered forAlex Lester,the lateJanice Long,Ken Bruce,andVanessa Feltz,as well as providing cover forSimon Mayo DrivetimeandSteve Wright in the Afternoon.

Also between 2012 and 2018, she was the stand-in ofThe Radio 2 Breakfast Showcovering forChris Evans.

Cox joinedBBC Radio 2for her first regular show each Saturday night from 22:00 to midnight, presenting a 1980s decade showSounds of the 80sto 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 ofSounds of the 80sbyGary Davies;Cox presented her final edition of the show on 11 May 2018.[17]

On 29 October 2018, it was announced that Cox would succeedSimon Mayoas 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 withScott Millsjoining the station on a permanent basis to present from 2–4pm.[19]

Television

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In July 2007, Cox presentedLondon LiveonChannel 4,and appeared as a guest star on theSky1showAngela and Friendsin November 2009[20]and as guest presenter in January 2010.[21]Also in 2010, she appeared as a team captain onWhat Do Kids Know?along withRufus HoundandJoe Swashon theWatchchannel.[22]

Cox commentated for the semi-finals of theEurovision Song ContestonBBC Threewith fellowBBC Radio 1DJScott Mills[23]at the2011 Contestand2012 Contest,and again in2021as a late stand-in forRylan Clark.[24]Cox was replaced byAna Matronicstarting from the2013 Contest.[25]

On 21 October 2014, Cox guest presented aChildren in Needepisode ofThe Great British Sewing Bee.[26]

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

In 2016 Cox co-presentingToo Much TV,a daily magazine show onBBC Two.[28]

In 2017, Cox appeared onDara O Briain's Go 8 Bitand was on Steve's team in the show. She lost the episode in terms of points.[29]On 4 June 2017, Cox co-presented theOne Love Manchesterbenefit concert special and British television special withOre Oduba.

Since 2018, Cox has co-presentedBack in Time for...,where a modern-day family enjoy meals that were eaten by families of years gone by. She replacedGiles Coren.[30]From May 2018, Cox presentsLove in the CountrysideforBBC Two.[31]

On 5 March 2019, it was announced that Cox would host a newITVshow, entitledThe 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 presentedBetween the Coverson BBC Two, a seven-episode book programme, renewing for five series, as of December 2022.[33]

Books

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

Her debut novelThrownwas published in May 2022. Her second novelWay Backwas published in March 2024.[citation needed]

Personal life

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Family

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Cox married the DJJon Carterin 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.[citation needed]

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

Advocacy

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Cox says that she is committed to protecting the environment. In 2009 she joined the10:10project 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 goingveggieonce, but it lasted about four hours. "[41]

In August 2014 Cox was one of 200 public figures who were signatories to a letter toThe GuardianopposingScottish independencein the run-up to September'sreferendum on that issue.[42]She revealed, when taking part in a one-off celebrity special ofThe Crystal Maze,that she had voted againstBrexitin 2016.[43]

Privacy

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In June 2003, Cox and her ex-husband Jon received £50,000 in an out-of-court settlement from the British newspaperThe Peopleafter 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 thePress Complaints Commission,who found in her favour.The Peopleprinted an apology. Cox was unsatisfied, and sued the newspaper in theHigh Courtfor a breach of her right to privacy under theHuman Rights Act.

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

Stalking incident

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In July 2017 a convictedchild sex offendernamed Anthony Collins was convicted ofstalkingCox, 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 toharassmentand was sentenced to 16 months in prison.[46][47][48]

Charitable activity

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Cox was one of 52 celebrities contributing to a children's story entitledOnce Upon a Time[49]to promote a new charity directory inquiries number 118 520. The book will be auctioned with the profits going to theNSPCC.Cox is also a named supporter of the animal charityPDSA,and has promoted the charity by being photographed[50]with her pet dog, Snoop, by the lateLord 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.[citation needed]

Cox has also been an ambassador forCentrepoint—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.[citation needed]

In 2006, Cox participated as a celebrityshowjumperin the BBC'sSport ReliefeventOnly 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 onBBC Radio 2,raising money forComic Relief,Red Nose Day.She raised over £800,000 for Red Nose Day according to the commentary on television and the newspaperManchester Evening News.[53]

Awards and honours

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In November 2006, Cox was awarded an honorary doctorate by theUniversity of Boltonfor contributions to broadcasting.[54]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1996–1997 The Girlie Show Co-presenter
2006 Hustle Herself Cameo role
2007 The Album Chart Show Presenter
2009, 2010 Angela and Friends Guest appearance/guest presenter Cameo role
2009 The BRIT Awards: Red Carpet Co-presenter
2010 What Do Kids Know? Team captain
2011 Eurovision Song Contest 2011 UK Commentator Semi Finals
2012 Eurovision Song Contest 2012
2013 Never Mind the Buzzcocks Guest presenter 1 episode
2014 The Great Children in Need Sewing Bee Presenter
2015–2017 The Great Pottery Throw Down Presenter 2 series
2016 Too Much TV Co-presenter 1 series
Britain's Most Spectacular Backyard Builds Co-presenter 1 series
2017 One Love Manchester Co-presenter Television coverage
Children in NeedRocks the 80s Co-presenter
Tipping Point: Lucky Stars Contestant 1 episode (Season 4, Episode 2)
2018 Britain's Favourite Dogs: Top 100 Co-presenter One-off special
2018–2020 Back in Time for... Presenter 2 series
Love in the Countryside Presenter 1 series; 1 upcoming
2018 The Big NHS Singalong Co-presenter One-off special
This Morning Guest presenter
2019 The Sara Cox Show Presenter
2020–present Between the Covers Presenter 7 series
2021 Eurovision Song Contest 2021 UK Commentator (stand in) Semi Finals
2021–present Morning Live Presenter
2022 Britain's Top Takeaways[55] Co-presenter WithDarren Harriott
2023 Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway: Behind Doors Narrator
2024 The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer Herself / contestant One Episode[56]

References

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  1. ^Digital Spy:Sara Cox presents final BBC Radio 1 show as Chris Moyles pays tribute
  2. ^England & Wales, Birth Index: 1837–1983.Ancestry.co.uk. Retrieved 21 June 2007.
  3. ^Rucki, Alexandra (4 February 2019)."DJ Sara Cox furious after 'gang of young idiots' set fire at dad's farm".men.Retrieved9 March2019.
  4. ^Garratt, Sheryl (24 June 2001)."Vox Cox".The Observer.Retrieved29 October2018.
  5. ^Manchester Evening NewsSaturday 21 August 1993 page 14
  6. ^Willis, Tania (17 February 2015)."'I didn't eat during my twenties': Sara Cox confesses what she did to stay skinny ".OK!.Retrieved11 May2019.
  7. ^Yin-Poole, Wesley (30 November 2014)."WipEout: The rise and fall of Sony Studio Liverpool".Eurogamer.
  8. ^"BBC Cult – I Love 1996".Retrieved11 March2008.
  9. ^"Sara Cox – Presenters".Troikatalent. Archived fromthe originalon 8 April 2009.Retrieved9 March2011.
  10. ^"The Bitterest Pill".Britfilms. 20 February 2007. Archived fromthe originalon 11 August 2007.Retrieved9 March2011.
  11. ^"Press Office – Matt Edmondson to cover for Sara Cox on BBC Radio 1".BBC.Retrieved4 June2012.
  12. ^"Thursday – Sara Cox sits in for Chris, The Chris Moyles Show – BBC Radio 1".BBC.Retrieved23 August2018.
  13. ^"BBC Newsbeat Sara Cox to fill in for Fearne Cotton on Radio 1 show".BBC Newsbeat. 10 August 2012.Retrieved6 September2012.
  14. ^James Gill (10 August 2012)."Sara Cox to cover Fearne Cotton Radio 1 maternity leave".Radio Times.Archived fromthe originalon 1 January 2013.Retrieved6 September2012.
  15. ^"Radio 2 Programmes – Hot Gossip, Series 4, Episode 1".BBC. 25 June 2011.Retrieved4 June2012.
  16. ^Hendry, Steve (29 September 2013)."Radio star Sara Cox dreamed of marrying George Michael.. now she can't wait to host new show celebrating the 80s".Daily Record.Retrieved6 October2013.
  17. ^Moore, Matthew (11 January 2018)."Women take over top shows in Radio 2 revamp".The Times.Retrieved3 January2022.
  18. ^"Sara Cox to present new weekday Drivetime show on Radio 2, Trevor Nelson to present 10pm-midnight show".BBC Media Centre. 28 October 2018.Retrieved29 October2018.
  19. ^"BBC Radio 2 Autumn Schedule Changes".bbc.co.uk.Retrieved2 July2022.
  20. ^"Angela and Friends cast list","imdb"July 2011
  21. ^"Angela and Friends cast list","imdb"July 2011
  22. ^"What Do Kids Know?"Archived18 September 2011 at theWayback Machine,"UKTV"July 2011
  23. ^"Sara Cox and Scott Mills front Eurovision semi-finals exclusively on BBC Three".BBC Press Office. 21 April 2011.Retrieved10 May2011.
  24. ^Grocott, Matthew (17 May 2021)."Sara Cox replaces Rylan Clark Neal as UK Semi Final commentator".ESCBubble.Retrieved1 June2021.
  25. ^"United Kingdom: Ana Matronic replaces Sara Cox".ESCXTRA. 7 March 2013. Archived fromthe originalon 16 January 2014.Retrieved7 March2013.
  26. ^"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".Archived fromthe originalon 6 November 2014.Retrieved22 October2014.
  27. ^"The Great British Pottery Throw Down is coming".Digital Spy.21 April 2015.
  28. ^"Emma Bunton, Sara Cox to host BBC Two's live telly show".Digital Spy.13 February 2016.
  29. ^Page of show shows points of each episode and who won each episode.
  30. ^"BBC – Sara Cox takes Bradford family Back in Time For Tea as BBC Two series returns – Media Centre".BBC.
  31. ^"BBC – Sara Cox to present Love in the Countryside for BBC Two – Media Centre".BBC.
  32. ^"Sara Cox to host ITV weekend show".BBC. 5 March 2019.
  33. ^"Between the Covers".BBC Two.BBC.Retrieved14 December2022.
  34. ^Cox, Sara (7 March 2019).Sara Cox – Till the Cows Come Home – Hodder & Stoughton.Hodder & Stoughton.ISBN9781473672710.Retrieved9 March2019– via hodder.co.uk.
  35. ^"Caine 'in talks' for Austin Powers 3".BBC News. 5 October 2001.Retrieved29 October2018.
  36. ^"Sara Cox gives birth to baby girl".BBC News. 14 June 2004.Retrieved29 October2018.
  37. ^"Sara Cox Exclusive".3am.Daily Mirror.25 July 2007.Retrieved19 December2012.
  38. ^"Radio 1 host Cox expecting baby".London: BBC News. 15 September 2007.Retrieved4 January2010.
  39. ^"Baby boy for Radio 1's Sara Cox".London: BBC News. 11 March 2008.Retrieved12 March2008.
  40. ^"Celebrity Wedding – Radio DJ Sara Cox Secretly Marries Boyfriend Ben Cyzer".andbag.Retrieved24 June2013.
  41. ^"Case study: Sara Cox | 10:10".1010global.org. Archived fromthe originalon 7 June 2012.Retrieved4 June2012.
  42. ^"Celebrities' open letter to Scotland – full text and list of signatories | Politics".The Guardian.7 August 2014.Retrieved26 August2014.
  43. ^"The Crystal Maze October 2016".Channel 4. 16 October 2016.Retrieved17 July2017.
  44. ^"Cox privacy case 'a watershed'".BBC News. 7 June 2003.Retrieved23 May2010.
  45. ^"Privacy law remains confused".BBC News. 9 June 2003.Retrieved23 May2010.
  46. ^"Man jailed for stalking Radio 2 DJ Sara Cox".BBC News. 24 July 2017.Retrieved24 July2017.
  47. ^"Sara Cox stalker jailed".24 July 2017.
  48. ^"Stalker jailed for sending disturbing letters to Radio 2 DJ Sara Cox".24 July 2017.
  49. ^"Sara Cox to contribute to a children’s story to promote a new charity directory number 118 520",Charities Aid Foundation,19 February 2008. Retrieved 20 February 2005.
  50. ^"PDSA Celebrity supporters"Archived10 November 2008 at theWayback Machine,People's Dispensary for Sick Animals,14 October 2008. Retrieved 14 October 2008.
  51. ^"Our ambassadors".
  52. ^BBC."BBC – Radio 1 – Sara Cox – biography".BBC.Retrieved23 August2018.
  53. ^O'Rourke, Holly (21 March 2017)."Sara Cox finishes her 24-hour Danceathon for Comic Relief & raises over £800,000".Manchester Evening News.
  54. ^"University announces winter Honorary Doctorates".University of Bolton. 24 November 2006.
  55. ^"Britain's Top Takeaways".bbc.co.uk.Retrieved3 May2022.
  56. ^"The Great Stand Up to Cancer Bake Off".thegreatbritishbakeoff.co.uk.5 February 2024.Retrieved18 March2024.
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Media offices
Preceded by BBC Radio 1
Breakfast Show Presenter
2000–2003 		Succeeded by
Preceded by BBC Radio 2
Drivetime Show Presenter
2019–present 		Succeeded by
Incumbent
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