The Eastleigh-born DJ is taking on one of the BBC’s flagship radio shows, which airs from 6.30am to 9.30am, and under Ball has been the biggest British breakfast programme on radio.
Ball left in December and Mark Goodier and Gaby Roslin have sat in to present the programme temporarily. Before taking the helm on Monday, Mills admitted he was a “a little bit excited, and nervous”, and said it was going to be “all change at Radio 2 HQ”. Mills added in a Radio 2 teaser released last week that newsreader Tina Daheley and traffic and travel reporter Ellie Brennan would join him on the show, along with famous guests, and said they had “booked a choir to do the jingles”.
He was sent best wishes in an Instagram video by US singer Katy Perry, who said she hoped to meet him in October – when she performs at London’s O2 arena – and in the comments section by presenters Angellica Bell and Davina McCall. Mills has been entertaining radio listeners across the country for decades, beginning his career aged 16 at a local commercial station in Hampshire. Mills presented a variety of programmes on Radio 1 before launching his popular eponymous show in 2004, which aired between 1pm and 4pm, and later fronting The Official Chart Show from 2018.
Chris Stark joined as a co-presenter on the Scott Mills show in 2012 and the pair became popular thanks to a number of humorous segments including Innuendo Bingo. During his time on Radio 1, he picked up the Audio and Radio Industry Awa.