Presenter Sara Cox made her name on The Big Breakfast in 1998, after appearing on MTV and the Girlie Show in the 90s, as well as holding down a modelling career.
She had with a three year stint hosting the BBC Radio 1 Breakfast Show from 2000 to 2003, and now presents the Drivetime show on BBC Radio 2. Sara also presents the historical series Back In Time For..., and has helped farmers look for romance and more in Love In The Countryside since 2018.
In March 2019 she landed her own ITV series The Sara Cox Show, featuring entertainment, live music and celebrity guests every Saturday and Sunday mornings.
Sara Cox lives in north London with her husband, Ben, and children, Lola, 15, Isaac, 11, and Renee, nine, and tells Good Housekeeping all about what makes her home life tick.
How would you describe your home? Happy, noisy and full of animals. We have two tortoises, two dogs, a cat and a hamster (and that’s not to mention the kids!). The house is no palace, but it’s the sort of place I never dreamed I’d own; I grew up on my dad’s farm near Bolton and then we lived in a few council houses, so I feel very lucky.
How tidy is it? It’s pretty tidy, but I did find a banana skin on the radiator the other night; the guilty child was called back downstairs to remove it! Ben and I make a decent team: we have ‘GSD days’, otherwise known as ‘getting stuff done’, where we tackle one room and clear all the clutter out of it.
Cook for friends or eat out? I aspire to be a good dinner party host. I got into Ottolenghi about 10 years after everybody else and, last year, bought about five of his books. Then I got my job presenting BBC Radio 2’s Drivetime show every weeknight and it all went to pot.
Dream dinner party guests? Beyoncé and Jay-Z would be great. Graham Norton because he makes me laugh, French and Saunders because they’re my heroes and Mark Ronson to provide the music. Oh, and Annie Mac and her husband because they’re my actual friends, so I won’t be as weirded out by all the superstars in my kitchen!
What is your signature dish? Roasted cauliflower with chickpeas, wholegrain mustard and white wine vinegar. It’s a Gwyneth Paltrow recipe I got from one of the school mums and it’s so easy.
What’s your kitchen cupboard staple? A good olive oil, because I love a fried egg in oil and butter. Simply delicious!
What do you always have in your fridge? Cheddar, for when we need to make an emergency cheese butty. Life-saver!
What food could you not live without? Full-fat, unhomogenised milk. I love it when the cream settles in it – I often get a little spoon and eat a big dollop straight out of the bottle. In case you haven’t noticed, I’m a little mad on dairy!
Are you a saver or a spender? I’m somewhere in between. I measure everything in children’s shoes: if there’s a top for £400, I’ll think, ‘Well that’s 20 pairs of school shoes.’ It sounds crazy, but it puts everything else into perspective.
What is the best bargain you’ve ever found? A pair of navy and pale blue moon boots from Clarks. I bought them on a lunch break and they’ve seen me through about eight winters.
What is your best time-saving tip? Don’t attempt to drive around a city. I’ve started cycling everywhere on my electric bike; it’s the best decision I ever made. Best part? The bike does some of the work for you!
What did your parents teach you? To work hard for what you want and not be a snob about the kind of work you do. And to live in the moment, which is really important to me now.
What keeps you awake at night? Work. My brain is always whizzing around with worries: could I have done an interview better? Have I prepared enough for the next one? If it’s really bad, I’ll listen to an audiobook or use the Headspace app, and then my brain usually goes back to sleep.
Favourite household task? I try to avoid all of them where possible, especially folding washing. Does binge-watching boxsets in bed with my husband count? I’m obsessed with the BBC comedy Mum.
What lifts you out of a bad mood? Exercise... annoyingly! I do classes on a YouTube channel called HASfit, hosted by an American couple. I’m not sure if it’s supposed to be, but I find it hilarious.
Where is your happy place? My garden – the full-size football goal that sits at the back not included.
Sara hosts the Drivetime show on BBC Radio 2, weekdays, 5-7pm
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