The BBC has confirmed that it terminated Scott Mills' contract on Friday after obtaining new information relating to his conduct. The corporation stated that it acted decisively in line with its culture and values, but did not provide details on what fresh information prompted the decision.
The BBC acknowledged it was first made aware of a police investigation into historical allegations of sexual abuse in 2017. The Metropolitan Police confirmed that an allegation was made against Mills in 2016 regarding a historic sexual offence, with the alleged offences taking place between 1997 and 2000. Mills was interviewed under caution in 2018, but a file of evidence submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service resulted in no charges, and the investigation was closed in May 2019.
In his first public statement, Mills, 53, said he fully cooperated with the police investigation and respected the CPS decision. He expressed hope that the public and media would understand his wish not to make further public comment, thanking former colleagues and listeners for their support.
Mills had presented BBC Radio 2's breakfast show, Britain's most popular, since January last year, attracting 6.5 million listeners. He has not been on air since 24 March. The BBC's director of music, Lorna Clarke, informed staff of his departure, describing it as sudden and unexpected.
Additionally, the charity Neuroblastoma UK has dropped Mills as a patron, thanking him for his past support but stating its unwavering commitment to its mission.
