Scott Mills’ dramatic exit from the BBC has taken an even darker turn after reports emerged that he had previously been investigated by police over allegations of serious sexual offences involving a teenage boy.
According to reports, the 53-year-old Radio 2 presenter was questioned as part of a Metropolitan Police investigation that began in 2016. The allegations related to incidents said to have taken place between 1997 and 2000. However, no charges were ever brought against Mills, with authorities later concluding that there was not enough evidence to proceed.
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson confirmed that a man in his 40s had been interviewed under caution in July 2018, before a full file of evidence was passed to the Crown Prosecution Service. The CPS ultimately ruled that the evidential threshold had not been met, and the case was formally closed in May 2019.
Mills has declined to comment on the latest claims.
The revelation comes just days after the BBC confirmed that Mills is no longer contracted to the corporation, following what has only been described as an allegation relating to his personal conduct linked to a historic relationship more than a decade ago.
Despite mounting speculation, the BBC has refused to provide further details, stating only that it does not comment on individual cases.
Behind the scenes, the shockwaves have been immense. Staff were said to have reacted with audible gasps when the news broke internally, while senior figures admitted the speed of the decision was highly unusual. One insider said it is not like the BBC to act so fast, suggesting the situation must be extremely serious.
BBC News correspondent Sima Kotecha described the development as “mega news”, adding that there were immediate questions about why such a high-profile figure — reportedly earning over £350,000 a year — had been dismissed so suddenly.
On air, Jeremy Vine revealed he had only just learned of the situation minutes before going live, admitting he was taken aback by the breaking news and had no further details beyond the official statement about allegations relating to personal conduct.
The unfolding scandal has also cast a spotlight back over Mills’ long and complicated career. Having joined the BBC in 1998, he became one of its most recognisable voices — but not without controversy.
In the past, Mills openly admitted struggling with alcohol following the death of a former partner, describing how he would sometimes drink heavily before work and even go on air while drunk. He later reflected that he should have been fired for those incidents, calling them a massive mistake and a wake-up call.
Despite those struggles, Mills rebuilt his career, eventually landing the coveted Radio 2 Breakfast Show in 2025 — a role he once described as the best moment of his life.
Now, however, his future remains uncertain, with questions continuing to swirl around both the historic police investigation and the circumstances behind his sudden departure.
