Radio 2’s Sara Cox: It’s lovely that Steve Wright is in my new novel

Sara Cox, a cheerful radio personality, experienced a surge of intense feelings while recording a specific segment of her second book, Way Back, featuring a car radio playing Steve Wright's Sunday Love Songs.

The Radio 2 Teatime presenter shared that she was taken aback emotionally when she arrived at the portion dedicated to Steve Wright's love songs. She also mentioned that she had included a tribute to her dear colleague who passed away in February in her book.

"Of course, I have no intention of altering it. It's pleasant to have it included. It was truly enjoyable to have him included."

Cox, who is 49 years old, struggled to hold back her emotions as she gave a touching dedication on her radio program shortly after his passing was made public.

"We were all taken aback. It was a profound shock. No one had anticipated it. Our priority was to manage the situation appropriately to provide comfort to our audience. It was crucial to maintain composure despite being genuinely saddened and overwhelmed with emotions. Even now, there is still a lingering feeling of sadness in the air."

Another host, Jeremy Vine, makes a brief appearance in the book during a conversation on the radio while driving. In an attempt to be funny, the author attempted to imitate his voice for the audiobook. "I hear Jeremy's voice every day, and we are good friends as well. I believed replicating his accent would be simple, but it proved to be impossible."

It's evident that her Radio 2 team holds significant importance in her life, which she openly acknowledges.

"When I sometimes come to the studio feeling tired and calm after spending my morning alone battling with phrases, your amusing comments and entertaining stories always manage to make me grin broadly," she expresses.

Her character also comes into play in Way Back, which focuses on Josie, a woman from the working-class in the north, who has mostly lived a life belonging to the middle-class in a verdant neighbourhood in the northern part of London, with her affluent spouse, James, who makes condescending generalizations about northern people that she used to find amusing.

After 23 years, their marriage has reached its expected conclusion, which they both consent to. Their daughter Chloe is also okay with it.

This is a clever, humorous portrayal of a family's struggles, with intricate themes. Josie is nearing the midpoint of her life, and is faced with the challenge of accepting her father's untimely passing in a car accident at the young age of 38. Meanwhile, her mother, Sandra, refuses to converse or reflect upon her experiences with Josie's father, making it difficult for Josie to cope with her loss.

In the book, Josie encounters the ancient family estate located in Lancashire where she spent her younger years. She realizes that to face her forthcoming life, she must return there.

Cox has been thinking about returning to her hometown for some time now. She admits that some of the ideas she has given her protagonist match her own.

It would be great if I could have a small homestead somewhere, but convincing my husband who was born in Hampstead to move up north might be difficult.

Regardless of all the wild partying she did with her friend Zoe Ball in the Nineties, Cox feels most comfortable when she is in the rural areas.

In her initial written work, called Till The Cows Come home, the writer expressed her sentimental and moving early life experiences by honoring her childhood. She spent most of her childhood on her father's ranch, located on the outskirts of Bolton, where she was surrounded by dogs, cows, horses, and plenty of manure.

At present, she finds solace in connecting with her passion for horseback riding through her equine companion, Nelly. Whenever she is not occupied with work, she makes it a point to ride Nelly on a regular basis.

My instructor, Elaine, is absolutely incredible. Whenever I tell her that I require some form of relaxation to take my mind off my restless sleep and focus on leaping over hurdles, she is always able to provide it. This is truly fantastic.

"Spending time with Nelly helps me escape from reality. In addition, I have three dogs that require physical activity and care, while the cats and tortoises don't need as much attention."

The woman adds: "It seems that the older you become, the more distant you can feel from the location you grew up. In addition, as time goes by, I find myself contemplating when I will finally have the chance to possess a small farm or plot of land. This is a long-standing desire of mine."

The book portrays several powerful women, including Josie, who relocates to the northern region to commence a fresh chapter in her life, her faithful companion Fay, and her mother Sandra.

I have a passion for creating powerful female characters who encourage and uplift each other. This is because I am fortunate enough to have a group of women who share these traits in my personal life.

I aim to portray supportive female friendships in my stories, and also showcase the strength of forming new friendships where one is appreciated and recognized for their unique qualities.

Cox ventured into the field of broadcasting after starting out as a model. She was fortunate enough to receive job opportunities that led her to travel to various places such as Milan, South Korea, and New York. In 1996, she had the opportunity to host Channel 4's The Girlie Show. She also appeared on The Big Breakfast and worked at Radio 1 for ten years. Currently, she is employed at Radio 2.

Managing her family and career can be quite the balancing act for this woman. She is a mother to three children - Lola who is 19 from her previous marriage, Isaac who is 16 and Renee who is 14 from her current partner, an advertising executive named Ben Cyzer. Along with hosting her Teatime Radio 2 show, which has recently marked its fifth anniversary, she is also working on another series of the BBC2 book show, Between The Covers, set to air in October. Not only that, but she also enjoys horseback riding and even has plans for her third novel in the works. It's truly remarkable how she is able to manage everything.

"It's like a cycle. I've experienced a couple of weeks of calmness and now there's an increase in activity - but I enjoy having a lot of work to do."

Cox will be celebrating her 50th birthday later this year. However, she already had a big bash last year, so reaching 50 won't feel like a significant milestone. Cox also mentioned that she is not worried about getting old.

I consider myself fortunate to be getting older since I have known individuals who departed far too early and have left small children behind. I am grateful for the experience of growing older.

The book called "Way Back", written by Sara Cox, can now be purchased for £16.99 from Coronet publication. Grab your copy today!