Finance

BBC sacks radio host Scott Mills after historic police investigation reported

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on March 31, 2026

2 min read

· Last updated: April 1, 2026

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BBC sacks radio host Scott Mills after historic police investigation reported
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LONDON, March 31 (Reuters) - The BBC has sacked radio host Scott Mills following allegations about his personal conduct, with British media reporting on Tuesday that he was questioned by police a

BBC Sacks Scott Mills After Historic Police Allegations Reported

Details Emerge on Scott Mills' Dismissal and Police Investigation

Background of the Allegations

LONDON, March 31 (Reuters) - The BBC has sacked radio host Scott Mills following allegations about his personal conduct, with British media reporting on Tuesday that he was questioned by police a decade ago over historic allegations of sexual offences involving a teenage boy.

Police Investigation Timeline

Britain's Metropolitan Police said the boy at the centre of the investigation, first reported by the Mirror newspaper, was under the age of 16. The investigation began in 2016 following a referral from another police force and examined alleged offences reported to have taken place between 1997 and 2000.

"The investigation related to allegations of serious sexual offences against a teenage boy," the force said in a statement, without disclosing his age.

Legal Proceedings and Outcome

Police said a man in his 40s was questioned under caution in July 2018 and that a full file was passed to the Crown Prosecution Service. Prosecutors concluded there was insufficient evidence to bring charges, and the investigation was closed in May 2019.

BBC's Response and Mills' Career

The BBC said it does not comment on matters relating to individuals but confirmed Mills was "no longer contracted" to work for the corporation. It has not said whether the police investigation played any role in the decision.

Mills did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Impact on BBC and Industry Context

Mills, 53, took over Radio 2's flagship breakfast show in January 2025 from Zoe Ball, one of the corporation’s highest-paid presenters at the time.

His departure is another blow for the BBC, which is still dealing with the fallout from former news presenter Huw Edwards' 2024 conviction for making indecent images of children.

Additional Information

($1 = 0.7572 pounds)

(Reporting by Sam Tabahriti, editing by Paul Sandle and Ros Russell)

Key Takeaways

  • Scott Mills, 53, was removed from his Radio 2 breakfast show and is no longer contracted by the BBC following revelations of past personal conduct concerns (radiotoday.co.uk).
  • A Metropolitan Police investigation launched in 2016 concerned serious sexual offence allegations against a teenage boy under 16, relating to incidents from 1997–2000; a man was interviewed under caution in July 2018 but the case was closed in May 2019 due to insufficient evidence (itv.com).
  • Mills began hosting Radio 2’s flagship Breakfast Show in January 2025 after replacing Zoe Ball; he had been with the BBC since 1998 across Radio 1, 5 Live and Radio 2 (en.wikipedia.org)

References

Frequently Asked Questions

Why was Scott Mills sacked by the BBC?
Scott Mills was sacked following reports of a historic police investigation into serious allegations about his personal conduct.
What were the allegations against Scott Mills?
The allegations involved sexual offences against a teenage boy under the age of 16, reportedly occurring between 1997 and 2000.
Was Scott Mills charged after the police investigation?
No, prosecutors concluded there was insufficient evidence to bring charges, and the investigation was closed in May 2019.
Did the police investigation influence the BBC’s decision to sack Scott Mills?
The BBC did not say whether the police investigation played a role in their decision and declined to comment on individual matters.
When did Scott Mills begin hosting BBC Radio 2's breakfast show?
Scott Mills took over BBC Radio 2's flagship breakfast show in January 2025.

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