BBC Radio 2 Presenter Scott Mills Dismissed in Sudden Sacking
Scott Mills, the veteran BBC Radio 2 presenter, has been abruptly sacked from the corporation following an investigation into a claim related to his personal conduct. The 53-year-old broadcaster was last on air on Tuesday before being relieved of his contractual duties over the weekend.
Bombshell Email Informs Staff of Sudden Departure
Colleagues at the BBC discovered Mills' dismissal through a bombshell email sent by Director of Music Lorna Clarke. The message described the news as "sudden and unexpected" and acknowledged it would come as a shock to both staff and loyal listeners.
In her communication to BBC personnel, Clarke stated: "I wanted to personally let you know that Scott Mills has left the Breakfast show, and the BBC. I know that this news will be sudden and unexpected, and therefore must come as a shock."
She continued: "Not least as so many of us have worked with Scott over a great many years, across a broad range of our programmes on R1, 5Live, R2 and TV. I felt it was important to share this news with you at the earliest opportunity."
Three Decades at BBC Ends Abruptly
The termination marks a dramatic end to Mills' nearly three-decade career with the BBC, which began in the late 1990s when he joined BBC Radio 1's early breakfast show. He had most recently taken over from Zoe Ball on the BBC Radio 2 Breakfast show in January of this year.
According to the BBC's official statement: "While we do not comment on matters relating to individuals, we can confirm Scott Mills is no longer contracted to work with the BBC." The Mirror has reported that Mills' contract was formally terminated over the weekend.
Previous Close Call with BBC Dismissal
This is not the first time Mills has faced potential dismissal from the BBC. Last year, he revealed to fellow presenter Dermot O'Leary that he nearly lost his job in 2001 following boozy antics at the BRIT Awards.
Mills described how he had "got carried away so much at the BRIT Awards" and found himself needing to present a live show just two hours later. Reflecting on the incident, he admitted his actions were "naive and stupid" and understood why executives were "quite rightly" furious with him at the time.
He explained his younger mindset: "This probably wasn't allowed, but why go home when you can have a couple [of] hours of sleep in the den? I mean, I was young, I'm in my 20s, right?"
Financial Impact and Career Legacy
Mills' departure represents a significant financial loss for the presenter, who earned between £355,000 and £359,999 annually according to the BBC's 2024-2025 pay report. Throughout his career, he interviewed numerous entertainment icons and became a familiar voice to millions of BBC listeners.
Clarke concluded her email to staff by noting: "Of course, it will also come as a shock to our audience and loyal breakfast show listeners too. I will update everyone with more information on plans for the show when I'm able to." She requested understanding from colleagues who might have questions about the sudden development.
