BBC Terminates Scott Mills' Contract Following Historical Allegations
The BBC has announced the immediate sacking of former Radio 2 breakfast show host Scott Mills, after revelations emerged that he was previously questioned by police over alleged serious sexual offences against a teenage boy. The broadcaster confirmed the termination of his contract on Monday, stating it was due to allegations related to "personal conduct".
Police Investigation Details Revealed
According to reports from the Mirror newspaper, which first broke the story, Mills was investigated by the Metropolitan Police in 2016 following a referral from another police force. The allegations concerned serious sexual offences against a teenage boy, reported to have taken place between 1997 and 2000.
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson provided a detailed statement: "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 inquiries, a man who was in his 40s at the time of the interview was questioned by police under caution in July 2018."
The police confirmed separately that the boy was under 16 at the time of the alleged offences. A full file of evidence was submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service, which determined that the evidential threshold had not been met to bring charges. Following this advice, the investigation was closed in May 2019.
BBC's Swift Action and Charity Response
Mills was taken off the air last week, with the BBC announcing his dismissal on Monday. The broadcaster stated: "While we do not comment on matters relating to individuals, we can confirm Scott Mills is no longer contracted to work with the BBC."
In the wake of his dismissal, the charity Neuroblastoma UK has also parted ways with Mills, who served as a patron. A spokesperson for the charity told the Mirror: "Following his dismissal from the BBC, Neuroblastoma UK have taken the decision to part ways with Scott Mills, and he is no longer a patron of our charity. We have communicated this decision to Scott and his team, and would like to thank him for his support to date."
Career Highlights and Recent Context
Scott Mills, 53, had a prominent career at the BBC:
- He took over the Radio 2 breakfast show from Zoe Ball in January 2025
- Under his stewardship, the show's audience increased to 6.5 million listeners, making it the UK's most popular breakfast show
- He joined Radio 2's weekday schedule in 2022 when he replaced Steve Wright as host of the afternoon slot
- Previously worked on Radio 1 and hosted a weekend show on Radio 5 Live
His dismissal represents the latest crisis to hit the BBC regarding the alleged behaviour of its leading figures. The broadcaster has repeatedly stated it is trying to create a culture where no one is unaccountable, following previous allegations against prominent presenters including Huw Edwards and Tim Westwood.
The departure occurred during Tim Davie's final week as the BBC's director general. Davie announced his resignation at the end of last year after a series of crises, including those concerning the conduct of some BBC presenters.
Both the BBC and representatives of Scott Mills have been approached for comment about the latest reports regarding the police investigation and subsequent dismissal.
