Tina Daheley Breaks Social Media Silence Following Scott Mills' BBC Dismissal
BBC Radio 2 presenter Tina Daheley has publicly addressed what she termed an 'incredibly difficult week' after her colleague and co-host Scott Mills was abruptly sacked by the corporation. The 44-year-old broadcaster confirmed her recent absence from airwaves was due to illness, but her statement hinted at the wider turmoil surrounding Mills' departure.
The Circumstances of Scott Mills' Dismissal
Scott Mills, the 53-year-old Radio 2 breakfast show host, was dismissed on Monday following revelations about a historical police investigation. The Metropolitan Police confirmed they questioned Mills in 2018 over allegations of serious sexual offences against a boy under sixteen years old, alleged to have occurred between 1997 and 2000.
The Crown Prosecution Service reviewed the case and determined there was insufficient evidence to bring charges, formally closing the investigation in May 2019. Despite this legal clearance, the BBC terminated Mills' contract after twenty-seven years of service, citing matters related to his 'personal conduct'.
Daheley's Statement and Colleague Reactions
In a social media post on Wednesday morning, Tina Daheley wrote: 'Good morning! Just about recovered from this awful cold/flu I've had for the past week... Good news is I'm over the worst of it and looking forward to spending 2 weeks with my family over the Easter hols from tomorrow after what's been an incredibly difficult past week.'
She confirmed her planned return to Radio 2 on Tuesday, April 21st. Daheley and Mills had worked together since Mills took over the Breakfast Show role in January 2025, with colleagues reportedly questioning her whereabouts since Mills' dismissal.
Fellow Radio 2 presenter Jeremy Vine expressed confusion over the sacking during his Tuesday show, stating: 'There's been no crime... Scott Mills' sacking has left a lot of people very confused.' Vine suggested the BBC might be acting due to regrets over their handling of the Huw Edwards scandal, noting differences in how the two cases were managed.
BBC Under Scrutiny for Timing and Decision
The corporation faces mounting questions about both the timing and rationale behind Mills' dismissal. According to reports, new information relating to the same alleged victim but different from previous claims was recently passed to BBC executives, who 'decided he had to go' after reviewing these details.
An insider revealed Mills had informed the BBC in 2018 about his police questioning, with the presenter denying the allegations at that time. The Daily Mail reported that the complaint leading to Mills' dismissal may have been inspired by last week's Channel 5 documentary about disgraced former BBC newsreader Huw Edwards, with one BBC executive suggesting the timing was 'not a coincidence'.
Broader Implications and Corporate Response
In an email to staff, BBC director of music Lorna Clarke acknowledged the news would be 'sudden and unexpected' and come as a shock to both colleagues and listeners. The corporation has issued a separate apology for failing to adequately follow up on a 2025 press query containing limited information about another allegation of inappropriate communications by Mills.
The Metropolitan Police reiterated their standard position of not identifying individuals subject to investigation before charges are brought, while confirming the basic timeline of their inquiry into the historical allegations.
Scott Mills, who began his BBC career at Radio 1 in 1998 after working in local radio, has not publicly commented since his dismissal. Reports suggest he has 'gone to ground' and is not taking calls from concerned friends, with sources describing him as facing 'oblivion' after losing what was described as his life's work.
