For the past year, the most popular radio programme in the country, the BBC Radio 2 Breakfast programme, has been hosted by much loved veteran gay broadcaster, Scott Mills, who has also presented programmes for BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 5 Live and local radio services in a career spread over 25 years and more.
BBC Radio 2 presenter Scott Mills has left the corporation after an allegation was made regarding his personal conduct. The 53-year-old last presented his weekday mid-morning show on Tuesday before being taken off air while the BBC conducted an investigation.
It is reported that Mills was informed over the weekend that his contract had been terminated. According to media reports, the allegation relates to a historic relationship from over a decade ago.
In a statement, the BBC said: “While we do not comment on matters relating to individuals, we can confirm Scott Mills is no longer contracted to work with the BBC.” Colleagues within the corporation are said to be "shell-shocked" by the sudden development.
Lorna Clarke, the BBC's Director of Music, communicated the news to staff in an internal message. She wrote: “I wanted to personally let you know that Scott Mills has left the Breakfast show, and the BBC. I know that this news will be sudden and unexpected and therefore must come as a shock."
She acknowledged Mills's long career across the BBC, spanning Radio 1, 5 Live, Radio 2 and television, and noted the impact the news would have on the audience. Clarke concluded by stating she would share more information on future programming plans when possible, but would not be commenting further at this time. Independent Radio News noted that Mr Mills had recently been a popular presenter of Eurovision Song Contest coverage for BBC Radio listeners.
Mills began his career in commercial radio at the relatively young age of 16 as a DJ on his local Hampshire independent radio station, Power FM, after inundating the station with demo tapes, after which Mills was given an opportunity to present a week's worth of shows, and based on the success of this, he was immediately offered the 'graveyard slot' of 1:00 am – 6:00 am (six nights a week), making him the youngest permanent presenter on mainstream commercial radio.
Mills moved from Power FM to GWR FM Bristol, staying with the station for two years,before joining Piccadilly Key 103 in Manchester, starting on the late-night slot before moving to the mid-morning show. In 1995, Mills began to work for the new London station Heart 106.2.
Scott Mills began his BBC career on Radio 1's early breakfast show in 1998. He joined Radio 2 in July 2022, taking over from Steve Wright, and moved to the station's prestigious breakfast show last year following Zoe Ball's departure.
Whilst speculation about the downfall of Mr Mills is taking place widely in the media, including on LGBTQIA media, others have pointed out that there is a similarity between the sudden departure and the treatment of another gay celebrity in recent years, Philip Schofield. Mr Schofield was removed from the air over a historical, but perfectly legal, relationship with a man. Some people noted that Schofield and Mills were popular gay men and that there is no evidence of illegal or sinister activities. Gay human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell at the time described Schofield's assassination by the press as having the "whiff of homophobia" about it. Some commentators suggest that before we rush to condemn Mr Mills, we pause and wait to see whether he has actually committed any crime.
