BBC Radio 2 presenter Scott Mills has shared the hilarious and awkward moment his father, Pete, criticised his singing on The Masked Singer – without realising he was watching his own son.
A Festive Performance Meets Family Critique
The 51-year-old DJ, who took over the Radio 2 breakfast show from Zoe Ball in January, secretly competed in the show's Christmas Special as the character Figgy Pudding, eventually finishing as runner-up. The amusing family reaction unfolded as Scott's husband, Sam Vaughan, and Sam's mother, Suzi, sat down with Pete to watch the broadcast.
As Figgy Pudding's performance aired, an unimpressed Pete was quick to judge. "This one is awful," he quipped from the sofa. Suzi immediately disagreed, suggesting the voice sounded like that of musical theatre star Michael Ball. "He can sing. Sounds like Michael Ball, doesn't he?" she said.
Pete remained sceptical about the calibre of contestants, asking, "Not always singers are they?" to which Sam clarified, "No, they're rarely singers." Suzi doubled down on her guess, insisting, "Yeah, that is him, that is Michael Ball, I reckon."
The Unmasking and Priceless Reaction
The tension broke when judge Maya Jama correctly guessed the celebrity behind the costume was Scott Mills. The DJ then unmasked himself, revealing his identity to the stunned living room audience.
The video clip, shared on Scott's Instagram, captures the family bursting into laughter as a shocked Pete exclaims, "I can't believe that." The moment perfectly encapsulates the show's blend of secrecy and surprise, even for the contestants' closest relatives.
Career Security After Decades of Hustle
This light-hearted revelation comes after a significant year for Scott, who has recently spoken about finally achieving a sense of financial and career stability. In an interview with The Telegraph, he reflected on his promotion to the prestigious Radio 2 breakfast slot and how it has changed his outlook.
He admitted to years of professional insecurity, driven by the unpredictable nature of broadcasting. "I still feel insecurity a little bit," Scott said. "Contracts can end, radio stations get taken over... That's happened to a lot of people I know."
This fear led him to accept relentless work for over two decades, sometimes at the expense of his health. He recalled a gruelling freshers' week schedule that involved flying between London and Scotland multiple times with minimal sleep. "I took every opportunity for 20 years and actually, I don't really want to any more," he stated.
Now, landing what he calls "Zoe Ball's gig" has been a turning point. "For the first time, I really do believe in myself," he confessed. "It's like, 'you have to look at the facts. They've put you on the breakfast show, you must be doing something right'."
Reports indicate Scott received a substantial pay rise for the role, earning approximately £450,000 annually. While this is notably less than his predecessor's £950,000 salary—a reduction attributed to BBC cost-cutting pressures—Scott views it as the culmination of a long-term strategy. He described his career approach as "playing the long game" to reach this point of feeling he has finally "made it."
