Newsreader Tina Daheley to leave Radio 2 breakfast show
BBCTina Daheley has announced she is stepping down as the newsreader on BBC Radio 2's breakfast show after seven years.
Her exit comes a couple of weeks before Sara Cox takes over the morning show as the new permanent host, after Scott Mills was sacked by the BBC in March.
It marks the end of an 18-year run of early mornings for Daheley, who has also read the news on BBC breakfast shows hosted by Chris Moyles, Nick Grimshaw, Trevor Nelson and Zoe Ball.
Daheley announced her departure live on air on Tuesday, and later posted a statement on social media saying the job had been one of the "greatest privileges" of her life.
However, Daheley won't be leaving the station altogether; the presenter explained that she will still be standing in for Jeremy Vine's lunchtime show when he is away.
Writing on Instagram, Daheley said: "After more than seven years of early alarm calls on Radio 2, I'm stepping away from Radio 2 Breakfast.
"It's been one of the greatest privileges of my life to wake up with you every morning, and humbling to have been trusted to deliver the news on the biggest breakfast show in Europe."
She noted: "My breakfast run ends at Radio 2, but it all started on 1Xtra, when I landed my dream job reading the news on Trevor Nelson's breakfast show.
"After 18 years and six back-to-back breakfast shows (probably a record in there somewhere), I'm looking forward to a lie-in.
"Wishing Sara and her team the very best of luck. I'll be tuning in on the school run."
It has not yet been announced who will replace Daheley as the newsreader when Cox launches her breakfast show.
Gary Davies has been covering the Radio 2 breakfast show since Mills's exit in March.
Daheley began her BBC career in 2007, with roles reading the news on 1Xtra and Radio 1 before she moved to Radio 2 to read the news for six years on Ball's breakfast show.
Commenting on Daheley's Instagram post on Tuesday, Ball said: "Love you Tina. Class act darling girl. I can highly recommend the later start to your day."
Incoming breakfast host Cox wrote: "18 years, incredible, such a pro."
Dermot O'Leary, who hosts a Saturday morning show on the station, wrote: "Congrats Tina, great shift x".
Travel presenter Ellie Brennan described Daheley as "the most brilliant, hilarious friend" and said "We're going to miss you so much in the mornings," implying that she will remain on the breakfast show when Cox joins.
Channel 5 news presenter and former BBC Breakfast host Dan Walker, Radio 2's DJ Spoony, and Ball's breakfast show sidekicks Mike Williams and Richie Anderson were also among those who sent good wishes.
Radio 2's Shaun Keaveny wrote: "Ooh, imagine those extra hours in bed. Well deserved," while rapper Wretch 32 described her tenure as a "superb innings" and screenwriter Russell T Davies simply posted three heart emojis.
Daheley also presents BBC television news bulletins and fronts BBC show Points of View.
Cox takes over the Radio 2 Breakfast Show on 6 July, with Toy Story 5 star Tom Hanks announced as her first guest.
She recently joked to fellow radio presenter Vernon Kay that she would be setting 42 alarm clocks to make sure she was up on time on the first day, adding: "I can't wait – it's so exciting."