The BBC faced mounting pressure last night to reveal what bosses knew about sacked Radio 2 star Scott Mills.
The Breakfast Show DJ was axed on Monday after claims he had been questioned in 2018 by Scotland Yard over alleged serious sexual offences against a boy under the age of 16.
The BBC has refused to answer if it was aware of the alleged probe into Mills, 53, at the time, though a source close to the star told the Daily Mail they are ‘pretty certain’ he did not tell his employers.
The police investigation was launched in 2016 but dropped without charge in 2019 after the Crown Prosecution Service said there was not sufficient evidence.
And while the BBC has claimed it terminated Mills’ contract as soon as it became aware of the allegations, it was revealed yesterday that concerns about his conduct – separate from the police investigation – were flagged with bosses last year.
It has since been reported that BBC bosses were left with ‘no choice’ but to dismiss the DJ after being passed fresh details about his conduct.
While the new information is understood to involve the same person as the original complaint, it is different to the claims made during the Met Police’s investigations. After review, the BBC decided ‘Mills had to go’, according to the Daily Mirror.
A former BBC presenter contacted the broadcaster in May 2025 to say she had received information about alleged ‘inappropriate communications’ involving Mills.
Anna Brees, now a freelance journalist, also asked if bosses had ever received any formal complaints about the presenter relating to safeguarding, inappropriate conduct or harassment – to which she did not receive a response.
Last night the BBC admitted it failed to investigate.
A spokesman 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.’
Last Monday Mills, who had been with the corporation for 28 years, was hauled in front of executives for crisis talks over the previous sexual offences claims, before hosting his final show the following day.
His contract was terminated over the weekend in what BBC top brass said were allegations relating to his ‘personal conduct’.
Sources inside the BBC have claimed to the Daily Mail that it was due to the complainant, now believed to be in his 40s, ‘really pushing’ the severity of the situation with bosses last week that prompted them to act so suddenly.
It is further believed by those inside the broadcaster that the alleged victim has a connection to Radio 1, where the host presented The Scott Mills Show at the time of the probe.
Pressure is mounting on the BBC to say what was known in regard to the police investigation and why he was sacked so abruptly.
Media expert and crisis consultant Mark Borkowski told the Daily Mail: ‘The BBC need to come clean about what exactly they know about the alleged investigation into Mills, otherwise there will be backlash from listeners who are confused why he has been sacked for something that happened ten years ago.
‘It appears the BBC is trying to clear the decks in time for the new director general, as the Beeb will not want Matt Brittin to start under a “cover-up” cloud.
‘Where is the BBC of last year and the concern for its talent’s mental well-being, which paralysed its ability to make any quick, clean cut decisions? It was six days between Mills being taken off air and his sacking.’
Jeremy Vine called the sacking of his Radio 2 colleague ‘unfair’ as he insisted ‘there’s been no crime’ on his own BBC radio show yesterday.
Vine said: ‘Huw Edwards couldn’t be sacked because he was in a fragile mental state and everything I have read about Scott’s history today goes back to his own anxiety and depression but there doesn’t seem to be the same break cut for him.’
Yesterday disgraced former BBC News presenter Edwards, who was handed a six-month suspended sentence after pleading guilty to three charges of making indecent images of children, ‘liked’ a LinkedIn post that appeared to sympathise with Scott Mills.
Mills’ lawyers were contacted for comment. He has made no public statement so far.
