BBC sacked Scott Mills after learning alleged victim in police investigation was under 16

Scott Mills Dismissed by BBC Following New Evidence

Scott Mills, a BBC presenter, was removed from his position after the organization received updated details about the case. According to sources, the BBC became aware of the victim’s age only recently, leading to the decision to terminate his contracts. This action was taken last Friday, as revealed by BBC News.

Police Investigation Closes Without Charges

The police inquiry into the allegations of serious sexual offenses concluded in 2019, with prosecutors determining there was not enough evidence to pursue charges. The incident, reported to have occurred between 1997 and 2000, would have placed Mills in his mid-20s at the time. On Tuesday, the Metropolitan Police clarified that the victim was under 16 during the alleged events.

“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.”

Mills, in his statement on Wednesday, did not elaborate on the specifics of the accusations, nor did he provide additional context about his departure from the BBC. He expressed gratitude for the support he received from fans and colleagues, while emphasizing his desire to remain silent on the matter.

Revealing the Timeline

The BBC confirmed it was informed of the police investigation in 2017, though the full details about the victim’s age were only uncovered in recent weeks. A spokesperson noted that the organization acted in accordance with its values and culture after reviewing the new information. “What we can confirm is that in recent weeks, we obtained new information relating to Scott and we spoke directly with him. As a result, the BBC acted decisively and terminated his contracts on Friday 27 March,” they added.

It was also disclosed that the director general at the time, Tony Hall, was not aware of the allegations. Mills’ final appearance on Radio 2’s breakfast show was on Tuesday 24 March, where he signed off with a simple “Back tomorrow.” His replacement, DJ Gary Davies, took over the following day, continuing to host the show alongside overnight presenter OJ Borg as speculation grows about the future of the program.