Early career
Cox was born Sarah Joanne Cox in Bolton, Greater Manchester, but later dropped the use of the letter 'h' from her first name. She attended Smithills High School until aged 16, and leftCanon Slade School after her A-levels to pursue a career in modelling.
Cox won her first television show role in 1996, presenting early "Girl Power" show The Girlie Show on Channel 4. She later had stints on Channel 5 entertainment show Exclusive and Channel 4 music programme Born Sloppy. In 1997 Sara presented on the UK feed of MTV, hosting MTV Hot, a late night music show. In 1998 Sara won her first film role in "The Bitterest Pill".
In September 1998, she became a presenter of The Big Breakfast, following in the footsteps of her friend Zoë Ball (for whom Cox was a bridesmaid at Ball's wedding to DJ Norman Cook, akaFatboy Slim, in 1999). During her time on The Big Breakfast she interviewed stars such asRobbie Williams, Sting and Leonardo DiCaprio. Cox preferred to do interviews in her dad's caravan which was situated in The Big Breakfast garden.
Personal life
She married DJ Jon Carter on 6 October 2001; they split in December 2005. She gave birth to a girl, Lola Anne Carter, on 13 June 2004 at St John and St Elizabeth Hospital in North London.
On 16 September 2007, Cox announced on her BBC Radio 1 weekend show that she was expecting her second child. Cox's last weekend show was on Sunday 17 February 2008 before she left for 6 months maternity leave. Her second child, a baby boy named Isaac, was born on 10 March 2008 weighing 7 lb 12oz, at a London hospital. She returned to Radio 1 in September 2008. Sara went on maternity leave for the third time, after her show on Sunday 7 March 2010. Less than a week later, on 12 March, she announced that she had given birth to a baby girl, named Renee, at 8:30 am GMT.
In November 2007, when a guest on humorous news quiz Have I Got News For You, Cox revealed that she had been born with a dislocated hip.
Privacy
In June 2003 Cox won £50,000 damages plus costs from the British newspaper The People after it printed photographs of her sunbathing in the nude on her honeymoon in 2001. Cox, who was photographed with a telephoto lens whilst on a private island, initially complained to thePress Complaints Commission, who found on her side. The People printed an apology. Cox was unsatisfied, and sued the newspaper in theHigh Court for a breach of her right to privacy under the Human Rights Act. Cox settled out of court with the paper before any judgment was made.
Charitable activity
Cox will be one of 52 celebrities contributing to a children's story entitled ‘Once Upon a Time’ to promote a new charity directory inquiries number 118 520. The book will be auctioned with the profits going to the NSPCC. Sara is also a named supporter of the animal charityPDSA, and has promoted the charity by being photographed with her pet dog, Snoop, by the late Lord Lichfield.
Other activities
In 2006, Cox participated as a celebrity showjumper in the BBC's Sport Relief event Only Fools on Horses.
In November of that year she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by the University of Bolton for
contributions to broadcasting.
In July 2007 she became the presenter of The Album Chart Show on Channel 4, and appeared as a guest star on Sky 1's Angela and Friendsin November 2009.[16] In 2010 she appeared as a team captain on What Do Kids Know? along with Rufus Hound and Joe Swash on Watch.
As of the 2011 Contest, Cox commentates for the semi-finals of the Eurovision Song Contest on BBC Three with fellow BBC Radio DJ Scott Mills.