THE BBC was today plunged into a fresh crisis after Radio 2 breakfast DJ Scott Mills was sacked over allegations about his personal conduct.
The 53-year-old — who earned more than £350,000 a year — had his contract terminated after a complaint was made, understood to relate to a historical relationship.
He was called in for a meeting after his show last Tuesday — the same day a Channel 5 drama about the conduct of axed BBC newsreader Huw Edwards was screened.
A source said: “Scott was taken off air the following day and his contract was terminated at the weekend.” BBC staff were left stunned as the news broke yesterday.
News of his sudden sacking yesterday left BBC colleagues gasping in shock, one revealed.
Even star pals were blindsided by the announcement that the host had been given the elbow.
And sources said friends’ immediate attempts to contact Mills all ended in failure.
The Sun understands an allegation made against the Radio 2 Breakfast Show presenter relates to a relationship dating back more than a decade — and that his contract was terminated within five days of the complaint being made.
BBC news correspondent Sima Kotecha said: “We heard gasps in the newsroom when people realised that he had been sacked.
“We don’t know why he’s been sacked but we do know that it will surely be unwelcome news.
“The fact that the bosses had to do this means there must be something potentially very significant here to let one of their big names go. As I said, this is a huge name in the BBC.”
A source explained: “An allegation was made against Scott last Tuesday and he was called in for a meeting.
“He was taken off air from Radio 2 the following day and his contract was terminated at the weekend.
“It was a very fast process between the complaint being raised and Scott leaving. It happened in less than five days.”
A source close to Mills — the BBC’s 11th highest-paid star — said: “Scott was told about the allegation in a meeting with senior staff present. He was tense.
“He has completely shut down now and no one can get hold of him. No calls, no messages — nothing.
“The people who know him are blindsided by all of this and they can’t get hold of him.”
An internal message was sent around Radio 2 after Mills’ exit was made public.
Lorna Clarke, the BBC’s Director of Music, said: “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.
“Of course, it will also come as a shock to our audience and loyal breakfast show listeners too.”
Rhodri-Talfan Davies, the BBC’s Acting Director- General, sent out a company-wide email saying: “I hope you all understand that we are not able to share any more information.”
Referencing the shock of BBC staffers and Scott’s listeners, he praised the team working on Radio 2 and said: “I just want to recognise the pressure this puts on them, many of whom have worked with Scott for many years.”
In an official statement, the BBC said only: “While we do not comment on matters relating to individuals, we can confirm Scott Mills is no longer contracted and has left the BBC.”
The news of his axing over the “historical relationship” led the BBC’s own bulletins.
Jeremy Vine, who hosts the afternoon slot on Radio 2, said as he started his show: “Obviously, I was taken aback by that opening story to the news.
“I hadn’t heard anything about it until 17 minutes ago, when it was on the BBC website, and I only had the information that was given to you in the bulletin.
“I have nothing more, that it was allegations about Scott Mills’s personal conduct, which have led to him being sacked.
“I have no more than that. All right, on to today’s show . . .”
The “historical” nature of the relationship will lead to questions over what the BBC knew, if anything, at the time.
Mills — who married boyfriend Sam Vaughan in July 2024 shortly before they won BBC’s Celebrity Race Across The World — was taken off air from Wednesday last week.
Gary Davies stepped in to host the Breakfast show and will remain on air until Thursday, with OJ Borg working on Bank Holiday Friday and Monday.
Insiders said staff working at BBC Radio 2 were originally told Mills was having time off for “personal reasons”.
His last social media post was made last Tuesday, where he shared a clip of an interview he did with former One Direction star Louis Tomlinson the week prior.
A source said: “Scott was taken off air from Radio 2 on Wednesday. He clearly had no idea it was coming as at the end of his show on Tuesday, he told Vernon Kay, who hosts the next slot, ‘See you tomorrow.’
“When he wasn’t at work the next day, people working at Radio 2 and other stations were led to believe he was having time off for personal reasons. No one asked many questions.
“Now it’s come out, everyone who works at Radio 2, and in the wider BBC, are in utter shock.”
They added: “The BBC did not issue a company-wide press release and just shared the news with the radio staff.
“People who worked for the BBC outside of the radio service were reading about Scott on news websites. The shock around Broadcasting House in London was palpable.”
Kay, 51, has emerged as the favourite to replace Mills full time.
FAVOURITE FOR NEARLY 30 YEARS
SCOTT Mills became one of the BBC’s most popular presenters after nearly three decades with the corporation.
He was obsessed with radio while growing up around Eastleigh, Hants, joining a hospital radio station aged 12 and later working for regional stations.
After several rejections from the Beeb, he joined Radio 1 in 1998 as cover for the early breakfast slot — and was a regular on the Top of the Pops by 1999.
But he struggled with anxiety and depression, and his drinking spiralled after his boyfriend Mitch died in 2000.
It almost cost him his job when he turned up for his 4am show audibly drunk following the Brit Awards.
He said: “They could have just fired me and quite rightly so.” But he was given another chance, and now says he rarely drinks.
In 2004, he joined the station’s daytime line-up and became renowned for signing off calls with “Love you, bye”.
He also came up with Innuendo Bingo, where players try to not spit out water as they hear euphemisms.
In 2022, Scott jumped ship to Radio 2 to replace Steve Wright in the afternoon slot, and eventually won the coveted breakfast slot after Zoe Ball’s exit in January 2025. At the time, he told The Sun: “I’ve worked for this my whole life.”
The allegation made against Mills appears to relate to a time when he was working for Radio 1.
He joined the station in 1998 on its Early Breakfast Show. His profile was boosted when he took part in Strictly Come Dancing in 2014, paired with pro dancer Joanne Clifton.
In November 2024 it was announced he would replace Zoe Ball on Radio 2’s flagship Breakfast Show — and he started what he called his “dream job” the following January.
The drama plunges the BBC into a fresh crisis following the dismissals of other stars including Huw Edwards, plus John Torode and Gregg Wallace.
The day Mills was called to the meeting was the same day a Channel 5 drama about the conduct of Edwards was screened.
Martin Clunes starred in Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards, telling how The Sun helped expose his double life.
The former news anchor dodged a jail sentence in September 2024 after he pleaded guilty to three counts of possessing indecent images of children.
The previous July, The Sun revealed a top BBC presenter had been accused of paying a teen £35,000 in return for sordid images. Edwards was later named by his wife Vicky Flint as the presenter in question.
In July last year MasterChef hosts Wallace and Torode were both sacked after an investigation into their conduct.
The probe had been launched at the beginning of 2025.
Outgoing BBC Director-General Tim Davie said the corporation had “lessons we can learn,” after the scandal unfolded under his watch. Former Google boss Matt Brittin will take over the Director-General role on May 18.
Mills’s sacking from the BBC means he will no longer be involved in the BBC’s Eurovision Song Contest coverage.
He has previously commentated on the competition’s semi-final and hosts Radio 2’s coverage.
Earlier this month Mills was also announced as the new host of a podcast based on the BBC’s hit show Race Across The World.
Scott’s sacking also creates a headache for EastEnders as his voice appeared in a flash-forward scene on New Year’s Day, set a year in the future.
A representative for Scott was contacted for comment.
TIMELINE OF SCANDALS
THE BBC has had a number of scandals involving top stars in recent years.
2023: The Sun reveals serious allegations against Strictly pros Giovanni Pernice and Graziano Di Prima — with both sacked in 2024.
AUGUST 2024: One Show host and Match Of The Day pundit Jermaine Jenas was sacked following complaints of indecent behaviour.
SEPTEMBER 2024: Former News At Ten anchor Huw Edwards dodged jail after he admitted three counts of making indecent images of children.
JULY 2025: Masterchef hosts Gregg Wallace and John Torode were both fired over inappropriate behaviour.