The BBC has apologised for not investigating allegations about Scott Mills after a freelance journalist raised concerns with the broadcaster last year.
Mills was sacked with immediate effect on Monday over his 'personal conduct'. It later emerged that he had been questioned by police in 2018 over alleged serious sexual offences against a boy under 16, but the case was closed in 2019 due to lack of evidence.
The Telegraph reported that a freelance journalist contacted the BBC in May 2025 to ask about separate allegations of 'inappropriate communications' involving the presenter. The journalist asked whether the BBC had ever received any complaints about Mills regarding safeguarding or inappropriate conduct, 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.'
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that a man in his 40s was questioned under caution in July 2018 about allegations of serious sexual offences against a teenage boy between 1997 and 2000. A full file was submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service, which decided not to bring charges.
Following his dismissal, the charity Neuroblastoma UK has also dropped Mills as a patron. Mills had hosted the Radio 2 breakfast show, which became the UK's most popular under his tenure.
