Scott Mills is to join Radio 2 to replace Steve Wright, after announcing he would be departing from Radio 1 after 24 years.
Wright announced he would be stepping down from his afternoon show at the end of September after 23 years as part of the station’s schedule shake-up.
The 67-year-old broadcaster shared the news live during his show, Steve Wright in the Afternoon, on Friday saying: “I can’t hold the slot forever, so let’s give somebody else a go.”
Towards the end of the programme, he said: “I’ll try not to become emotional or self-indulgent, this is going to be a little bit difficult.
“At the end of September, I’ll be taking a break from daytime radio. In other words, stepping down from this programme.
“At the beginning of this year, my friend and boss Helen Thomas, head of Radio 2, said she wanted to do something different in the afternoons.
“I’ve been doing this programme for 24 years at Radio 2, and so how can I possibly complain? The support and creative freedom as I’m given is fantastic at Radio 2, and really I can’t hold the slot forever. So let’s give somebody else ago.”
He has presented Steve Wright in the Afternoon on the Radio 2 slot since 1999 and also presents Steve Wright’s Sunday Love Songs on the network.
Mills, who will step into the afternoon slot currently held by Wright, has been a radio presenter since the age of 16 – at which time he presented a show on his local Southampton radio station Power FM.
After joining the BBC in 1998, Mills presented the BBC Radio 1 breakfast show until 2004 after which he moved to a weekend afternoon slot for six months.
He currently presents the Scott Mills show on Radio 1 between 1pm and 4pm, along with co-presenter Stark, as well as The Official Chart Show on a Friday since 2018.
Speaking about the move, Mills said: “Time actually does fly when you’re having fun, and that’s certainly been the case over the past 24 years at my beloved Radio 1. The station I pretended to be on in my bedroom from the age of six. The station I told my mum I wanted to work at, but never in a million years thought I would.
“There are too many people to thank from my Radio 1 journey. So to the immensely talented people I’ve worked with along the way, to our incredible listeners that have made us part of their everyday lives for so long and of course to Chris – not just my co-host, but one of my best friends in the world, which of course he will be forever. Thank you.
He added: ““I really cannot believe I’m going to be calling Radio 2 my new home! I’m beyond excited to be joining the team and working alongside my radio idols and friends at the legendary Wogan House.
“I would like to wish all the best to Steve, who is one of the finest broadcasters in the world and someone whom I look up to so much.”
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