Background of the Scandal
Scott Mills, a well-known presenter on BBC Radio 2, was recently fired by the corporation after it came to light that the individual who accused him of serious sexual offenses in the 1990s was a minor at the time. The BBC’s current leadership only became aware of this detail in recent weeks, which prompted them to take action and terminate his contract shortly after he concluded his final Radio 2 Breakfast Show last Tuesday.
This development followed reports from the Daily Mail suggesting that rumors were circulating about Mills’s accuser possibly contacting the BBC due to the public attention surrounding Martin Clunes portraying a convicted sex offender in the series Power: The Downfall Of Huw Edwards.
Mills, who would have been 24 during the alleged incidents in the late 1990s, was interviewed under caution in 2018. However, the Crown Prosecution Service declined to pursue charges in 2019 due to insufficient evidence. Now, the BBC is reviewing emails and HR records from that period to understand what staff knew about the Metropolitan Police investigation and whether they were aware that the complainant was a child.
BBC’s Admission and Response
The BBC finally acknowledged on Wednesday that it had been aware of the police investigation at the time but took no action until receiving “new information” recently. In response to this revelation, Mills issued a statement through his lawyers to the Daily Mail, admitting he was the subject of the investigation and not denying the allegations. He also expressed gratitude to his fans and former colleagues.
His full statement read:
“The recent announcement that I am no longer contracted to the BBC has led to the publication of rumour and speculation. In response to this the Metropolitan Police has made a statement, which I confirm relates to me. An allegation was made against me in 2016 of a historic sexual offence which was the subject of a police investigation in which I fully cooperated and responded to in 2018. As the police have stated, a file of evidence was submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service, which determined that the evidential threshold had not been met to bring charges. Since the investigation related to an allegation that dates back nearly 30 years and the police investigation was closed seven 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. 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.”
Investigation and Legal Context
Mills, now 53, was investigated and cleared over allegations of historic “serious sexual offences” against a boy under the age of 16 between 1997 and 2000. The BBC admitted it was aware of the investigation into Mills in 2017 but only fired him after “new information” emerged last week. The Metropolitan Police confirmed on Wednesday that it had been in contact with the corporation on several occasions since 2017 regarding the allegations.
On Monday, Mills was removed by the BBC over his “personal conduct,” though the corporation did not provide further details. It later emerged that he was investigated by the police in 2016 after claims of “serious sexual offences” against a teenage boy aged under 16 between 1997 and 2000. The case was closed in 2019 after the Crown Prosecution Service deemed there was insufficient evidence to bring charges.
Ongoing Scrutiny and Public Reaction
Despite the BBC’s admission that it was aware of the investigation, pressure continues to mount over why Mills remained on air despite being interviewed under caution between 2018 and 2019. The corporation faced further scrutiny when the Metropolitan Police confirmed that officials had spoken to the BBC on multiple occasions about the disgraced presenter.
A Met spokesman said: “We have been in contact with the man’s employer on several occasions, between the start of our investigation in 2017 and the present day. It would not be appropriate to share the specific nature of these discussions.” However, it is believed that officers spoke to the corporation’s lawyers as recently as last week after the BBC learned about the “new information” involving the broadcaster.
The allegations first came to light in 2016 when Hampshire police received claims of non-recent sexual offenses against a teenage boy. The alleged victim was between 13 and 16 years old, and it is believed that Mills and the complainant met online. The investigation was transferred to the Metropolitan Police in December 2016, and Mills was invited to a London police station for questioning rather than being arrested.
A former BBC presenter contacted bosses in May 2025 to report receiving information about alleged “inappropriate communications” involving Mills. Anna Brees, now a freelance journalist, also asked if the BBC had ever received formal complaints about the presenter relating to safeguarding, inappropriate conduct, or harassment. She did not receive a response. The BBC was forced to admit on Tuesday that it had failed to investigate the matter thoroughly. 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.”
