Scott Mills Snubbed in Tense BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show Return After Sacking
Gary Davies has replaced Scott Mills on the BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show, stepping into the hotseat with no mention of his predecessor's permanent departure. This move follows the shocking news that Mills was sacked by the BBC, leaving loyal listeners stunned and colleagues 'shellshocked.' The corporation is already attempting to move on from the scandal, as Davies subtly took over the show last week.
Davies' Debut Without Acknowledgment
Today, millions of loyal listeners tuned into the Breakfast Show for the first day since news of Mills' exit was published by the Mirror. However, there was no mention of the former presenter as Davies got the show under way. He began breezily, saying, 'Good morning. How are you? Tuesday 31st March. It's Gary here for the next three hours,' before hitting play on his first song.
After the song finished, Davies followed up with, 'How's your Tuesday morning? What have you already accomplished this morning?' before introducing the next tune by Clean Bandit. Listeners eagerly awaited any acknowledgement of Mills, but Davies avoided it entirely, even discussing Eurovision—a topic Mills was heavily involved with.
Background of the Sacking
Last night, the Mirror revealed that the BBC's decision to sack Mills relates to a 2016 police investigation into 'serious sexual offences' against a teenage boy. Mills was questioned by police under caution, but the case was dropped due to a lack of evidence. However, the sacking is understood to be linked to this individual.
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson stated on Tuesday: 'In December 2016, the Met began an investigation following a referral from another police force. The investigation related to allegations of serious sexual offences against a teenage boy. These were reported to have taken place between 1997 and 2000. As part of these enquiries, a man who was in his 40s at the time of the interview, was questioned by police under caution in July 2018. A full file of evidence was submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service, who determined the evidential threshold had not been met to bring charges. Following this advice, the investigation was closed in May 2019.'
Reactions and Fallout
The Mirror broke news of Mills' sacking on Monday, informing BBC staff by email, leaving them 'shell-shocked' by his sudden departure. The BBC issued a public 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.'
News of the axing left Jeremy Vine stunned. At the start of his show, he admitted being 'taken aback' by the news, saying: 'Obviously, I was taken aback by that opening story to the news. I had not heard anything about it until 17 minutes ago, when it was on the BBC website, and I only had the information that was given to you in the bulletin, I have nothing more, that it was allegations about Scott Mills’s personal conduct, which have led to him being sacked. I have no more than that. Alright, on to today’s show.'
Fan Responses and Online Reactions
While some fans of Mills were devastated by his sacking before details emerged, Gary Davies garnered support online for his new segment. One Twitter/X user wrote as his show got under way: '#Radio2 #GaryDavies getting his own jingles Oooooo Gary Davies…. We’re back in the 80’s,' with a love heart emoji. This indicates a mixed reception, with some embracing the change despite the controversy surrounding Mills' exit.
