Scott Mills says Zoe Ball did him the favour of his career 20 years ago

DJ and radio presenter Scott Mills has shared how Zoe Ball did him a huge favour early in his career after her mishap had a lasting impact on his radio career.

This revelation comes after was announced as the new host of the iconic Breakfast Show, replacing after her six-year run on the programme. Zoe will be stepping down from the Breakfast Show but will remain with the station.

Scott has now opened up about a small mistake Zoe made years ago, which, in an unexpected turn of events, helped propel his career forward. He said: “I will never forget how you really took me under your wing and you really looked after me because I didn’t know one person there.”

Scott then recalled the time Zoe overslept into her early morning show leading to him filling in as her substitute. He described the mishap as the “biggest favour” of his career since it gave him the opportunity to hold down the fort for a day.

He said: “Because of that I then covered that breakfast show, whether it was in for you or for Sara (Cox), or then for Grimmie (Nick Grimshaw) or , I did it for well over 20 years, all because you overslept.”

Scott also extended his gratitude to Zoe for attending his wedding with his husband Vaughan earlier this year even though she had experienced a "tough year". He said: “It meant so much to me that you came to my wedding because I wasn’t sure if you could make it because I know you’ve had such a tough year.

“But on the big day, or actually the day before on the Friday, you texted me like ‘I’m on the plane’ and I shouted to my Sam, I was like, ‘Zoe’s on the plane’, and I was so glad that you could come.”

Zoe said she “wouldn’t have missed it for the ”. She added: “I really needed that weekend, and to see you and Sam, and to see how in love you are, which we all got to see on Race Across The World, and I love you both to pieces. You are going to be amazing at this job. Can I say thank you for doing it as well so that I can set my alarms slightly later of a morning.”

, Scott said he is “beyond excited” to be taking over presenting the Radio 2 Breakfast Show from Zoe.

"She’s done an incredible job on this show over the past six years, and I am beyond excited to be handed the baton. It feels ever since recording my first shows as a kid for an audience of one, my mum, all roads since have led to this amazing opportunity."

In a statement, he said: “Zoe and I have been such good friends now for over 25 years and have spent much of that time as part of the same radio family here at Radio 2 and also on Radio 1.

"It really is a lifelong dream come true to follow in the footsteps of Sir Terry, Chris and Zoe to be the new presenter of the Radio 2 Breakfast Show.”

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