The sacking of BBC radio presenter Scott Mills was one of the biggest news stories in the United Kingdom this week.
Australian audiences might be less familiar with the radio personality, but the case is making waves overseas and in Australia too.
Mills, 53, was the host of host of the broadcasters flagship BBC2 Breakfast program. He took over the role at the beginning of 2025 replacing Zoe Ball who had fronted the show for the previous five years. It’s one of the most prestigious radio jobs in the UK that’s previously been held by legendary names including Terry Wogan and Chris Evans.
Prior to taking over the Breakfast slot Mills had hosted a long-running music show on BBC Radio 1, been a familiar face on British television shows and commentated on the semi-finals of the Eurovision Song Content.
The BBC ended his employment this week in relation to a 2017 investigation into allegations of serious sexual offences. The police investigation was closed in 2019 after prosecutors decided there was insufficient evidence to bring charges.
The BBC said they were aware of the investigation that alleged Mills had committed sexual offences between 1997 and 2000 when he was in his mid-twenties, but new information had led to them making the decision to sack the presenter. It has been suggested that the additional information was that the alleged victim was a teenage boy under the age of 16 at the time of the alleged offences.
After his employment was terminated Mills released a statement saying he had fully cooperated with the 2017 investigation.
“Since the investigation related to an allegation that dates back nearly 30 years and the police investigation was closed 7 years ago, I hope that the public and the media will understand and respect my wish not to make any further public comment on this matter.”
He added: “I wish to thank from the bottom of my heart all those who have reached out to me with kindness, my former colleagues, and my beloved listeners, who I greatly miss.”
The case has raised questions including if its fair for the presenter to be fired from his job when the justice system had already found there was not enough evidence to substantiate the allegations, while also raising questions about how much details the BBC knew about the allegations back in 2017.
Mills came out as gay in 2001 to avoid press speculation about his sexuality. He married his husband Sam Vaughan in June 2024.
