Outgoing BBC Director-General Tim Davie has stated it became "very clear" that former Radio 2 DJ Scott Mills had to be sacked, calling the decision a "real shock to the organisation". Mr Davie made these remarks during an all-staff call on his final day in the role, just days after Mills' contract was terminated following allegations about his "personal conduct".
New Information Prompted Decisive Action
The BBC has acknowledged it was aware of a police investigation into historical sexual offence allegations against Mills from 2017, but said it "acted decisively" after receiving "new information" in the weeks preceding his dismissal. Mr Davie explained to staff: "It was new information quite recently that we received that made it very clear about the decision we had to make."
Leadership Approach and Organisational Impact
When questioned about Mills during the staff call, Mr Davie emphasised the corporation's attempt to act fairly and with kindness amidst the shock and grief within the organisation. He stated: "When something happens where I think there's a lot of grief, there's a lot of shock, I think all I would say is we're trying to act as the leadership with kindness."
Mills had his contract terminated on Friday, shortly after being taken off air, with the sacking officially announced on Monday. The former Radio 2 breakfast host subsequently responded that he had been subject to "rumour and speculation" since his firing and claimed he "co-operated fully" with the police investigation.
Cultural Changes at the BBC
Mr Davie, who has led the BBC since 2020 during a period of several controversies, also addressed broader cultural issues within the broadcaster. When asked if staff culture had evolved under his tenure, he remarked: "It'll never be fully fully fixed, but I think it's changing, I really do."
He further discussed individuals in senior industry positions "who have had a lot of power", noting: "If they misuse it, that has not been called out, let's face it. I do think we've reached a point where people behaving badly now, you can see we're not going to tolerate it."
Transition of Leadership
Following Mr Davie's departure, interim director-general Rhodri Talfan Davies assumed the role on April 2, with former Google executive Matt Brittin set to become the permanent director-general on May 18. This leadership change marks a significant transition for the BBC as it navigates the aftermath of the Mills controversy and ongoing cultural reforms.
