Sara Cox has been announced as the replacement for Scott Mills as Eurovision commentator, following the BBC's decision to remove him from all television and radio roles after allegations of 'serious sexual offences' against a teenage boy. The 53-year-old presenter was sacked after 28 years with the broadcaster due to a historical relationship with the young man.
The BBC confirmed it had removed all future work planned with Mills, including his role as a commentator for the Eurovision Song Contest. Cox, 51, will now take on the role, having previously commentated on the semi-finals during a radio show last year alongside Rylan Clark. The Eurovision final is scheduled for May 16 in Vienna, Austria, with semi-finals on May 12 and 14.
The allegations against Mills relate to incidents between 1997 and 2000, when the complainant was under 16. Scotland Yard confirmed that the Crown Prosecution Service rejected the case due to a lack of evidence, and the investigation was closed in 2019. The Daily Mail reports that the complainant may have been inspired to speak out again due to the publicity surrounding the Huw Edwards docu-drama.
Former police officer Mark Williams-Thomas stated that Mills was interviewed by the Met in 2018 as part of a spin-off investigation from Operation Yewtree. The BBC has not disclosed the specific reasons for Mills' sacking, citing only his 'personal conduct'.
