BBC Radio 2 viewing figures revealed after Sara Cox took over from Scott Mills amid claims she left staff 'uncomfortable' over her 'naming and shaming' mistakes live on-air

After unceremoniously sacking Scott Mills from the Radio 2 Breakfast slot earlier this year, BBC bosses were left scrambling to find a replacement.

And hiring BBC stalwart Sara Cox seems to have paid off as the latest listening figures show that just over a quarter of a million more people tuned in to her first three months on air compared to the same period last year.

Despite rumours of disquiet among the production team, it seems that listeners have remained faithful to Radio 2 following the scandal, which saw Mills hauled off air back in March.

During the period covering July to September, an average of 6.4 million people tuned into the Radio 2 Breakfast Show, compared to 6.1 million during the same months in 2025, when Mills was at the helm.

The figures for Ms Cox’s first few months in the role are, however, on a par with what Mills was getting on average during his short-lived 14-month tenure, according to the latest RAJAR report.

Mills, 53, who was sacked when bosses discovered that a police investigation into claims of sexual misconduct against him was made by someone who was under-age at the time, did frequently attract an audience of 6.4m.

Listening figures show that just over a quarter of a million more people tuned in to Sara Cox's first three months compared to the same period last year after she took over from Scott Mills

During the period covering July to September, an average of 6.4 million people tuned into the Radio 2 Breakfast Show, compared to 6.1 million during the same months in 2025, when Mills was at the helm

There was a slight dip during his final months on air, suggesting that some viewers had tuned out even before the scandal broke.

Figures also dropped slightly when Gary Davies covered his absence as a stand-in presenter from April through to July, when Ms Cox, 51, took up the role.

Although viewers are clearly keen on Ms Cox, there is said to have been tension behind the scenes due to Mills’ dismissal, which some staff thought was unfair.

Vernon Kay’s mid-morning slot continues to be the most popular radio show in the UK, with 6.8 million listeners.

While listening figures across Radio 2 and Radio 1 have remained relatively stable since last quarter, Radio 4 has seen another drop, with 232,000 tuning out in the last three months.

This could be due to the corporation’s brutal budget cuts, which will see a reduction in permanent Today presenters as well as the axeing of consumer and social affairs show You and Yours and The World Tonight.

The station’s flagship Today programme has also lost listeners, dropping from 5.6 million listeners to just 5.2 million this quarter.

A BBC spokesman said: 'We’re pleased that Radio 4 remains the UK’s leading speech radio station, delivering a distinctive mix of news, drama and culture to millions of listeners every week.

‘As listening habits change and audiences increasingly discover audio through podcasts and on demand platforms, Radio 4 programmes continue to attract some of the biggest audiences on BBC Sounds, reflecting the extraordinary talent, world class journalism and compelling storytelling across the network.'

Head of Radio 2, Helen Thomas, said: ‘In a quarter where Radio 2 celebrated folk music with 21st Century Folk and threw an enormous party in Stirling with Radio 2 in the Park, I’m thrilled that we have grown our listeners to 12.7 million each week, making us the UK’s most popular single radio station.

‘Vernon continues to present the UK’s most popular radio show with a weekly audience of 6.8 million, and Sara Cox’s breakfast show remains the biggest in the UK, with 6.44 million listeners, an increase of 4.5% on the year.’

Cox praised her 'incredible team' after reports emerged this week that BBC Radio 2 staff were left 'uncomfortable and on edge' over her 'naming and shaming' mistakes live on-air 

It comes after Cox praised her 'incredible team' after reports emerged this week that BBC Radio 2 staff were left 'uncomfortable and on edge' over her 'naming and shaming' mistakes live on-air. 

The Daily Mail revealed those working with her 'felt on edge' and feel 'thrown under the bus' when she calls out a mistake on air. 

In a new interview, Cox had nothing but praise for her team and described them as a 'brilliant bunch of people'. 

'The reaction’s been great. We have the best listeners in the world and I have the best job in the world. I’ve got an incredible team, a brilliant bunch of people like me who are massive radio geeks, and I love it,' she told The Sun.

The presenter had been at the Beeb for 26 years, host of the Drivetime slot for seven, before landing the Breakfast Show slot. 

Insiders at Radio 2 who have worked with the Manchester-born host revealed staff feel 'uncomfortable' and 'on edge' due to her habit of calling mistakes out on air and naming those responsible.

A source told the Mail: 'A lot of studio managers and technicians don't like working on the show with her.

'Everybody is on edge because she keeps pulling people up when there is a mistake that goes out on air and then throwing them under the bus, it's unfair and not part of the team spirit.'

A BBC spokesman said: 'Live radio is at its best when it feels spontaneous and real, and this was simply a lighthearted, on-air moment between colleagues. 

'Sara's warm, lively presenting style and great relationship with the breakfast team are genuine - and that authentic chemistry is exactly what our millions of listeners tune in for every weekday morning.'