Scott Mills was dismissed in a tense meeting with BBC executives just five days after a complaint surfaced related to a 2016 police investigation into serious sexual offences. The BBC took swift action, removing Mills from the airwaves and terminating his contract within a matter of days.
The police investigation centered on allegations involving a teenage boy. Mills was questioned under caution during the probe, but the case was ultimately dropped due to insufficient evidence. The recent complaint pertains to the same individual connected to that investigation.
According to sources close to the corporation, the BBC acted “quickly and decisively” after the complaint was raised last Tuesday. The sequence of events moved rapidly: Mills was called in for a meeting, taken off Radio 2 the following day, and had his contract ended by the weekend.
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Insiders described Mills as visibly tense during the meeting. Those close to him say he has since withdrawn completely, not responding to calls or messages, leaving friends and colleagues shocked and blindsided by the turn of events.
Colleagues recount that Mills was unaware of the impending decision. After finishing his show on Tuesday, he casually told Vernon Kay, his successor, “See you tomorrow.” His absence the next day was initially thought to be due to personal time off.
The BBC staff were informed internally but no official company-wide statement was released. Meanwhile, news of his departure spread widely online, leaving many at Broadcasting House in London stunned.
Lorna Clarke, BBC’s Director of Music, addressed staff with a statement acknowledging Mills’ sudden exit from the breakfast show and the corporation. She recognized the shock felt by both colleagues and the audience and promised to provide updates about the show’s future plans once available. However, she refrained from offering further details about the circumstances of Mills’ departure.