Sara Cox is off to a strong start after her first day as the host of Radio 2’s flagship breakfast show, if the reviews are anything to go by.

Back in April, it was announced that Sara had landed one of the most coveted jobs in broadcasting following the abrupt departure of outgoing host Scott Mills earlier in the year.

On Monday morning, she kicked things off with a playful start – making light of how long she’d waited to be appointed the host by playing Lizzo’s About Damn Time followed immediately by Cece Peniston’s Finally.

After the broadcast, critics were mostly won over by Sara’s first broadcast, with The Independent giving her a five-star appraisal.

“Cox brought all the silliness and fun from her teatime programme (and some of the features) – with an added dose of sparkle from an impressive A-list guest,” they enthused, referring to her previously-advertised interview with Tom Hanks to help launch her new show.

The Telegraph was similarly impressed, writing in its own four-star take: “Cox started as she meant to go on – a hectic, uplifting three hours of pure, unadulterated Cox. Bit spiky, bit rude, a lot of fun. There’ll be no repressing of the natural spirit here. And did she sound just that bit more Boltonian than normal?

“Having been a breakfast show stand-in many times over, we knew what we would get with Cox, though she did betray some nerves. These displayed themselves in a presenting style that sometimes verged on chaotic but never strayed away from charming.”

“It turns out there is little that injects more energy into a programme or an audience than the sound of a confident, successful, professional and unapologetic woman triumphant in the job she deserves,” iNews agreed.

They continued: “How refreshing it is to hear radio as mischievous and human as this – but then, that’s always been Cox’s great gift: she went from fun-loving ladette to fun-loving, reassuring mum who’s seen it all; she’s able to be light-touch without losing her sincerity, and she’s never sycophantic.”

More critical was The Times, who claimed Sara’s inaugural show “felt a little underwhelming” and could have been “bolder with what it jettisoned and introduced”, although its critic still gave the show three stars overall.

Sara previously said she was “ecstatic, honoured and incredibly chuffed” to be taking on the role, which she said had been her “dream” since joining Radio 2.

“It feels like a bit of a full circle for me,” she admitted.

The presenter hosted Radio 1’s breakfast show between 2000 and 2003, and had been Radio 2′s teatime host since 2019 before her latest appointment.

“I’ve had the most glorious seven years of my career on teatime so thank you to my brilliant teatime listeners who hopefully will join me at breakfast for excellent music and all my usual nonsense plus some superstar guests,” she added, noting that she “can’t wait to wake the nation up with the biggest most fun breakfast show ever”.