The BBC has apologised after it emerged that allegations about Scott Mills were raised with the broadcaster in 2025 but not properly investigated. Mills was sacked on Monday over his “personal conduct”, and it later emerged he had been questioned over separate serious sexual offence allegations in 2018, which were dropped due to lack of evidence.
According to The Telegraph, a freelance journalist contacted the BBC in May 2025 with information about separate allegations of “inappropriate communications” involving the presenter. The journalist asked whether the broadcaster was aware of any related matters or had received formal complaints about Mills, but did not receive a response.
A BBC spokesperson said: “We received a press query in 2025 which included limited information. This should have been followed up and we should have asked further questions. We apologise for this and will look into why this did not happen.” The spokesperson added that the BBC urges anyone with concerns to raise them.
Mills, who hosted the UK’s most popular breakfast show on Radio 2, was taken off air last week and his contract terminated on Monday. The Mirror reported that the sacking related to a 2016 police investigation into alleged serious sexual offences against a teenage boy, which was closed in 2019 after the Crown Prosecution Service decided there was insufficient evidence to charge.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that a man in his 40s was questioned under caution in July 2018 about offences alleged to have occurred between 1997 and 2000. The force added that the victim was under 16 and the case was referred by Hampshire Constabulary.
Following his dismissal, the charity Neuroblastoma UK confirmed it had parted ways with Mills as a patron. The BBC has declined to comment further on the individual case.
