The BBC has been plunged into a fresh storm after admitting it was made aware of troubling allegations involving longtime Radio 2 star Scott Mills nearly a year before finally pulling him off air — a delay that is now sparking outrage and uncomfortable comparisons with past scandals.
Mills, 53, was abruptly dismissed earlier this week, just six days after hosting what would unknowingly become his final breakfast show. At the time, the corporation offered only a vague explanation, citing “personal conduct” — but the full picture now appears far more complicated and deeply troubling.
Reports have linked the decision to a historic police investigation into alleged sexual offences involving a teenage boy, said to be under the age of 16 at the time. The alleged incidents date back to the late 1990s, with police questioning Mills in 2018 before ultimately dropping the case in 2019 due to insufficient evidence.
However, the controversy has intensified after it emerged the BBC had been alerted to separate concerns as recently as May 2025 — and failed to act.
Freelance journalist and former BBC presenter Anna Brees said she contacted the corporation after receiving information from what she described as a credible source. She asked whether the BBC had ever been aware of complaints or concerns relating to safeguarding, inappropriate conduct, or harassment involving Mills.
Despite the seriousness of her inquiry, she says she was met with silence.
She later explained that she felt compelled to speak out because the source appeared credible and the nature of the allegations raised concerns, but the BBC never responded to her approach.
Now, in a rare admission, the broadcaster has acknowledged that her warning should not have been ignored.
A spokesperson said the organisation received a press query in 2025 containing limited information, but admitted it should have been followed up properly. They apologised and confirmed an internal review would be conducted to understand why no further action was taken.
The revelation has triggered sharp criticism, with insiders suggesting the situation echoes previous failures involving high-profile figures such as Jimmy Savile and Huw Edwards — cases that have long haunted the corporation’s reputation.
Behind the scenes, questions are mounting over what the BBC knew, when it knew it, and why decisive action appears to have come so late.
Adding another twist, sources claim the renewed attention around the case may have been influenced by the recent dramatisation of the Huw Edwards scandal. The high-profile programme reportedly reignited internal discussions and may have prompted fresh scrutiny of past allegations.
One insider suggested the timing was unlikely to be coincidental, saying the drama created a sense that “a reckoning was coming” within the organisation.
Former detective and investigative journalist Mark Williams-Thomas confirmed that Mills had been interviewed by police as part of a wider wave of allegations in the aftermath of the Savile scandal, when authorities were inundated with historic claims against public figures. He noted that while Mills was never charged, he was allowed to continue working for years afterward.
Inside Broadcasting House, the reaction to Mills’ sudden departure has been described as one of shock. Staff reportedly reacted with audible disbelief when informed via internal email, while colleagues have painted a very different picture of the presenter himself — describing him as kind, generous, and hugely popular.
Friends are said to be devastated, struggling to reconcile the allegations with the man they know.
Yet the lack of a suspension period or visible investigation has only fuelled speculation. One insider admitted that rumours are now spiralling, with many questioning whether the swift dismissal signals more serious concerns behind closed doors.
As pressure builds, the BBC now faces a familiar and uncomfortable demand: to explain not just why Scott Mills was sacked — but why it took so long.
