The BBC has apologised for its response after allegations about Scott Mills were raised with the broadcaster last year. Mills was sacked with immediate effect on Monday over his “personal conduct”, and it later emerged he had been questioned over separate allegations of serious sexual offences against a boy under 16 in 2018, but the case was closed due to lack of evidence.
The Telegraph reported that a freelance journalist contacted the BBC in May 2025 with information about separate allegations of “inappropriate communications” involving the presenter. The journalist asked whether the broadcaster was aware of any related matters or had received any complaints about Mills, but did not receive a response.
A BBC spokesperson said: “We received a press query in 2025 which included limited information. This should have been followed up and we should have asked further questions. We apologise for this and will look into why this did not happen.”
Mills, who hosted the UK’s most popular radio breakfast show on Radio 2, was taken off air last week. The BBC announced on Monday that his contract had been terminated due to allegations related to “personal conduct”. The Mirror reported that the sacking related to a police investigation in 2016 into alleged serious sexual offences against a teenage boy, which was dropped in 2019 due to insufficient evidence.
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson confirmed that a man in his 40s was questioned under caution in July 2018 over allegations of serious sexual offences against a boy under 16 between 1997 and 2000. The Crown Prosecution Service determined the evidential threshold was not met, and the investigation was closed in May 2019.
Mills has also been dropped as a patron by Neuroblastoma UK. The charity said: “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.”
