Sara Cox’s split from famous husband and happy family life after saying ‘never again’ to marriage
BBC Radio 2 presenter Sara Cox is taking part in the Great Northern Marathon Challenge for Children In Need and will be cheered on by her husband and three children
10:18, 10 Nov 2025
Sara Cox is taking on a mega challenge for Children in Need(Image: Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)
Sara Cox is the latest BBC Radio 2 presenter to be taking part in a major challenge to raise money for Children In Need as she pulls on her trainers for the Great Northern Marathon Challenge.
The challenge, which kicked off on Monday, November 10, sees her covering 135 miles on foot across four counties – Northumberland, Durham, North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire – a distance of five marathons across five days.
She is running, jogging, and walking through sweeping moorland, steep ridges, and the rolling hills of northern England, with the support of towns, villages, and Radio 2 listeners, along the way.
And among those cheering on the 50-year-old, who also regularly hosts BBC One’s Morning Live, are her husband and three children. Animal-lover Sara, who is from Bolton in Greater Manchester, lives in London with her family and their array of pets, including dogs and cats.
But Sara – who pursued a modelling career before launching her broadcasting career with a presenting role on Channel 4’s The Girlie Show before MTV and The Big Breakfast stints – has endured heartbreak including splitting from her first husband. Here we take a look at her relationships.
Sara with Pudsey(Image: BBC)READ MORE: Scarlett Moffatt backs new campaign to burst ‘perfect parenting’ mythREAD MORE: Everything we know about Freddie Flintoff’s life-changing injuries that scarred his face
Sara’s marriage split
Sara tied the knot with DJ Jon Carter in October 2001 at a secret ceremony in North London.
They went on to have one daughter together – Lola Anne – but they split in 2005 after four years of marriage.
The marriage followed “a very unhappy relationship” with an ex-boyfriend at the start of Sara’s career.
Speaking to the Times in July 2024, Sara was asked about the worst home she has ever lived in. She replied: “I was in a very unhappy relationship when I first moved to London. I lived in Arnos Grove in Enfield, north London, in a converted church.
“I was with this person who turned out to be horrible and he stole from me. I felt emotionally stranded there. Then I binned him off and the MTV [from 1997] and Big Breakfast [from 1998] years began.”
Sara with first husband Jon Carter(Image: Mirrorpix)
Finding love again
Following her break-up from her first husband, Sara went on to find love with advertiing executive Ben Cyzer and the pair have two children together – son Isaac and daughter Renee.
When they first got together, sara gushed in an interview with the Daily Mirror: “I am very happy and smug and pleased and loved.
“I have a really good balance in my life. I have a lot of support and a brilliant other half. Me and Ben live together in our new, lovely home. He’s just brilliant – I go all pink and girlie.
“He’s a brilliant boyfriend. He’s very thoughtful and caring. He does so much for me but the things that mean the most are the little things.”
Despite previously saying “never again” when asked by the Mirror if she would marry a second time, she went on to tie the knot with Ben.
In June, Sara posted a series of photos on her official Instagram account from her holiday in Italy with Ben celebrating 20 years since they met at Glastonbury, although Ben likes to remain from the public eye so wasn’t featured in the images.
She said: “Lake Garda/Bergamo/Lake Como. 20 years since we met at Glastonbury. 12 years married.”
Sara with Gethin Jones on Morning Live (Image: BBC)
Great Northern Marathon Challenge route
Sara’s Great Northern Marathon Challenge will see her covering 135 miles on foot across four counties – Northumberland, Durham, North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire – a distance of five marathons across five days.
Starting on Monday 10 November in the wild beauty of Kielder Forest on the Scottish borders, Sara is aiming to finish in Pudsey in Leeds on the afternoon of Friday 14 November – a symbolic journey carrying Pudsey from border to heartland.
