Tina Daheley has announced her departure from the BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show after more than seven years as its newsreader. Daheley, 45, made the announcement live on air, describing her time on the program as a privilege and reflecting on the connection she had formed with listeners over the years.

Daheley joined the Breakfast Show in 2016 and was the newsreader throughout the 14 months during which Scott Mills served as host, until his dismissal in March over allegations related to personal conduct. The two developed a close working relationship, leading to Daheley being affectionately nicknamed Mills’ “work wife” by colleagues and listeners alike.

Her departure comes ahead of Sara Cox’s scheduled takeover as the Breakfast Show host on July 6. Since Mills’ exit, Gary Davies has been acting as a stand-in host. Daheley’s decision to leave the breakfast slot has prompted speculation about staff morale at the BBC following Mills’ sudden departure, although she offered no explicit commentary on this during her farewell.

Speaking emotionally on air, Daheley said: “My big news is that after more than seven years of early alarm calls on Radio 2, I’m stepping away from Radio 2 Breakfast. It has been an absolute privilege to be there and to have had a whole generation of people grow up with me. I’ve been a part of so many people’s lives.” In a subsequent online statement, she extended her best wishes to Cox and the new team taking over the program.

Daheley’s career with the BBC began in 2007 on Trevor Nelson’s breakfast show on BBC Radio 1Xtra. She later served in multiple newsreading roles on Radio 1, including for morning shows hosted by Chris Moyles and Nick Grimshaw, before her long tenure on Radio 2.

Former Radio 2 Breakfast Show host Zoe Ball, who stepped down earlier this year, also paid tribute to Daheley on social media, praising her professionalism and recommending a later start to the day. Daheley will remain with the BBC in other capacities, though details of her future roles have not been confirmed.