SCOTT Mills has been dealt with a fresh blow after his sacking from the BBC as his M3 bridge tribute has been permanently removed.
It was officially unveiled as The Scott Mills Bridge back in 2016 and a plaque was installed at Fleet Services on the M3.
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Scott Mills has been dealt with a fresh blow after his sacking from the BBCCredit: Shutterstock EditorialA tribute plaque was installed in 2016 after a bridge was named after himCredit: News Group Newspapers ltdThe plaque has now been taken downCredit: Not known, clear with picture desk
His then BBCRadio 1 co-host Chris Stark and Welcome Break staff led a campaign to rename it after him.
However, after his dismissal from the BBC, the plaque has now been removed.
In official pictures obtained by The Sun, the plaque which was previously on a wall next to a set of stairs, has been taken down.
The black and silver frame previously said “The Scott Mills Bridge” alongside the Welcome Break logo and his signature.
The Sun previously revealed that the bridge would be renamed as Welcome Break, who own the service station, want to disassociate themselves from Scott, 53, following the scandal.
A source explained last month: “It’s highly likely Welcome Break will rename the bridge in light of Scott being fired, especially given the nature of the allegations.
“It’s not a great look for them to be associated with any scandals.”
He was last on-air as host of the Radio 2 Breakfast Show on Tuesday, March 24, before a complaint arose.
BBC chiefs are understood to have taken swift action in sacking him thereafter.
The complaint is believed to relate to “serious sexual offences” against a teenage boy.
He was questioned by police under caution in 2018 – when he was in his 40s, the Mirror reports.
The interview was related to alleged offences which took place between 1997 and 2000.
The case was dropped in full due to a lack of evidence.
Scott was sacked last month due to his “personal conduct”Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
A source close to Mills — the BBC’s 11th highest-paid star — told The Sun: “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.
She expressed: “There are not enough adjectives to really sum up how I’m feeling about being trusted with such an iconic show but let’s start with ecstatic, honoured and incredibly chuffed.
“It’s been a dream to host the Breakfast Show since I joined Radio 2 and it feels like a bit of a full circle for me.
“I’ve had the most glorious seven years of my career on Teatime so thank you to my brilliant Teatime listeners who hopefully will join me at Breakfast for excellent music and all my usual nonsense plus some superstar guests.
“I honestly can’t wait to wake the nation up with the biggest most fun breakfast show ever.”
Sara Cox has replaced Scott as host of BBC Radio 2’s Breakfast ShowCredit: Getty
BBC Radio 2 presenter Sara Cox, who has just landed the biggest job on the station, has been married to husband Ben Cyzer, with whom she shares two children, since 2013
17:42, 23 Apr 2026Updated 17:45, 23 Apr 2026
Sara is loved up with second husband Ben Cyzer, who she married in 2013(Image: Getty Images)
Newly announced BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show presenter Sara Cox has always been open about her home life, previously sharing a “depressing” revelation about her marriage to husband Ben Cyzer.
The BBC Radio 2 host tied the knot with Ben in 2013, and together they’re parents to daughter Renee and son Isaac. She’s also mum to Lola from her earlier marriage to DJ Jon Carter.
Yet Sara, aged 51, has disclosed a nightly struggle she endures with Ben. Speaking on her Teen Commandments podcast, which she co-hosts with Clare Hamilton, Sara revealed that Ben’s snoring regularly drives her to escape to another bedroom.
She explained: “This is my issue that I’ve got with Ben in the night if I wake up, just him breathing is annoying. Not during the day, I just mean any slight noises.”
“You know on a wildlife documentary when they have a shot of an animal that’s on high alert for a predator? I feel like I’ve got that heaving in the middle of the night, I can just hear the tiniest [noise]…it’s just so magnified in the middle of the night.
“I think there’s a bit of anxiety in there. I remember in my twenties if I woke up at like half one, I probably wouldn’t have been in bed at half one, but if I woke up in the middle of the night and it was like 3am, in my twenties I’d be like, ‘Yeah, I’ve got loads of time to sleep, amazing’. Now I’m 50 I go, ‘F**k, it’s three, I’m not going to sleep, I’m never going to get back to sleep again’.
“So I need to tap into that twenties energy of thinking, ‘I’ve got loads of time to sleep’.”
When questioned about managing her partner Ben’s nocturnal disturbances, Sara Cox revealed: “I nudge him, he’s really patient, he’s great about it, and then we just keep sleeping in separate rooms, which is a bit depressing.”
Sara has just revealed how “ecstatic” she feels to take the reins of the BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show, after its former host, Scott Mills, was axed from the role last month.
“There are not enough adjectives to really sum up how I’m feeling about being trusted with such an iconic show but let’s start with ecstatic, honoured and incredibly chuffed,” she shared.
The star, who currently hosts Radio 2’s weekday Teatime show and will begin fronting the Breakfast Show in the summer, added: “It’s been a dream to host the Breakfast Show since I joined Radio 2 and it feels like a bit of a full circle for me.
“I’ve had the most glorious seven years of my career on teatime so thank you to my brilliant Teatime listeners who hopefully will join me at Breakfast for excellent music and all my usual nonsense plus some superstar guests. I honestly can’t wait to wake the nation up with the biggest most fun breakfast show ever.”
Some billionaires put their money into space rocket launches. Others invest in longevity treatments to extend their time on Earth.
But when New York grocery and oil magnate John Catsimatidis tapped into his fortune for a passion project, he chose WABC, an AM radio station well past its glory years.
Catsimatidis , 77, acquired WABC in 2019 and has turned it into the most listened to talk station in the U.S., according to Nielsen data, reaching more than 400,000 listeners a week.
He is also on the air every day as part of the station’s award-winning evening program “Cats & Cosby,” where he and veteran journalist Rita Cosby hold a daily salon with like-minded friends and big-name political figures.
In a windowed studio overlooking Third Avenue in midtown Manhattan, Catsimatidis can be seen scrolling through his mobile phone and looking as if his mind is elsewhere while on the air. But he quickly snaps into delivering a concise opinion or question whenever Cosby directs him.
“John can look like he’s taking a little bit of a nap, but he’s always ahead of you in the conversation,” said radio consultant Jerry Crowley, who first gave Catsimatidis his own program at Salem Broadcasting’s WNYM.
Catsimatidis is among the circle of media commentators who speak regularly with President Trump, whom he’s known for 45 years and strongly supports. The relationship has made WABC part of the national political conversation.
In December, Trump revealed the U.S. military’s first land strike on Venezuela to Catsimatidis during a morning call into WABC, to the surprise of some national security TV correspondents.
Catsimatidis may become even more well-known soon thanks to his cameo role in the Oscar-nominated film “Marty Supreme,” which will be available April 22 to the 60 million U.S. subscribers of streaming service HBO Max.
“Marty Supreme” director Josh Safdie cast Catsimatidis as Christopher Galanis, a financial backer of the table tennis phenom played by Timothée Chalamet in the film. Safdie told Vanity Fair he liked Catsimatidis’ “larger-than-life regional business man” look, which he noticed when the mogul ran for New York City mayor in 2013.
Rita Cosby and John Catsimatidis in WABC’s New York studio with former NY Gov. David Paterson and Edward Cox.
(Justin Jun Lee/For The Times)
Catsimatidis added some verisimilitude to the role as he once rented a basement apartment to Marty Reisman, the table tennis champion who inspired the film.
“He put 20 pingpong tables in there,” Catsimatidis said. “And he was such a hustler. He’d give you 18 points and he’d still beat you.”
The brief scene required five days of shooting. “Even though it was a pain in the ass to do so many takes, I admire Josh for being a perfectionist,” Catsimatidis said during a recent interview at his office, where a plate of peeled or cut fresh fruit is always nearby.
After the film’s Christmas release Catsimatidis was getting calls from people he had not heard from in years.
“I didn’t know how important a movie this was,” Catsimatidis said. “When Josh said he had a role for me, I said, ‘OK. Why not? It’s a new adventure.”
Catsimatidis has had more than his share of adventures.
His father was a lighthouse keeper, living in solitude on the Greek island of Kandelioussa for 16 years before entering a family-arranged marriage with his mother. The couple emigrated from Greece to the U.S. when Catsimatidis was a toddler.
Catsimatidis grew up in West Harlem and studied electrical engineering at New York University. But he showed a talent for selling as a teenager when he hawked bottles of aftershave lotion out of the trunk of his Buick. In the late 1960s, he bought out a 50% share in an upper Manhattan supermarket where he worked as a clerk and, to the chagrin of his parents, dropped out of college to work full time in the grocery business.
John Catsimatidis during a live broadcast of his WABC radio show “Cats & Cosby” at the station’s New York studio.
(Justin Jun Lee/For The Times)
By the age of 25, he had opened 10 stores under the name Red Apple and was earning $1 million a year. In his 30s, he became a jet pilot and owned a regional airline. Investments in real estate and an oil refinery he bought out of bankruptcy have driven his current net worth up to $4.8 billion, according to Forbes.
Business success earned Catsimatidis a seat at the table in national politics. He backed the 1988 presidential campaign of fellow Greek American Michael Dukakis and donated to Bill Clinton. By 2016, he was aligned with Trump, as are most of the hosts on WABC, including Newsmax’s Greg Kelly and Fox Business Network’s Larry Kudlow.
Catsimatidis has been a fixture in the New York tabloids for decades, not always in a positive way as he’s had legal battles with unions at his businesses over the years. He now deals with the occasional furors that arise when managing outspoken on-air personalities in the current divisive political media environment.
He clashed with Rudy Giuliani, who is suing Catsimatidis for removing the former mayor from his hosting role at the station in 2024. Giuliani was pulled off the air after he refused to stop talking about false claims of voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election — a matter that cost Fox News $787 million in a defamation suit.
When WABC’s fiery morning host Sid Rosenberg is mentioned, Catsimatidis bows his head and performs the sign of the cross.
Rosenberg, a relentless Trump supporter, called New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani a “radical Islam cockroach” during an on-air rant last month. Catsimatidis had the host deliver an on-air apology and issued one of his own online.
Catsimatidis, who is also chief executive of the Gristides supermarket chain, is no fan of Mamdani’s policies and is among the New York business types who declared they would leave the city if the Democratic Socialist took office. But he said he maintains a cordial relationship with Mamdani and offered advice on the mayor’s proposal to open city-run grocery stores.
“I don’t care if you’re a socialist, a Republican, a Democrat or an independent,” he said. “As long as you have common sense.”
Catsimatidis made millions from buying New York real estate on the cheap in the 1970s when the city was in deep economic trouble. So he recognized a bargain when his Red Apple Media group bought WABC for $12 million from Cumulus Media.
WABC was the most listened-to station in the country during the heyday of top 40 radio in the 1960s — riding the wave of the Beatles — and well into the ‘70s. The station’s booming 50,000-watt signal at 770 on the AM dial reached 40 states.
WABC switched to an all-talk format in 1982 and boosted the careers of conservative radio personalities Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity.
The station’s fortunes declined under Cumulus, which was crushed by debt and losing ground to new competition from digital media.
The challenges did not discourage Catsimatidis, who recalls listening to WABC on his transistor radio as a student attending Brooklyn Tech High School in the 1960s. He loves the station’s legacy, and brought back its famous jingles with the dial position and call letters put to the tune of Rodgers and Hart’s “Manhattan.”
Catsimatidis even hired one of WABC’s legendary disc jockeys, Bruce Morrow — known to millions of baby boomers as Cousin Brucie. Morrow, now 89, plays oldies on Saturday nights.
But the investment has gone beyond nostalgia. After taking over, Catsimatidis told its president, Chad Lopez, to drop its weekend infomercials and replace them with locally produced shows. The decision meant walking away from $2.7 million in annual revenue, but Catsimatidis insisted.
“John said, ‘I want to make WABC great,’” Lopez said. “Once we went to more live and local programming, you could see the audience start coming in.”
The station also reduced its commercial load. A typical talk station carries up to 21 minutes of ads in an hour. WABC carries about six to eight minutes per hour at most.
WABC does not break out its finances, but Catsimatidis said it turns a profit, which he puts back into the business. The station has expanded its digital presence, creating podcasts of its daily programs and bite-size versions of longer interviews on the station for downloads.
Every bit of news made on the station’s programs is quickly turned into social media content. The livestream of the station attracts listeners in all 50 U.S. states and 176 countries. WABC programs are syndicated to 532 radio stations in the U.S., including 16 in California such as KINS in Eureka.
Catsimatidis speaks of grandiose-sounding plans to take on the BBC or replace the Voice of America with WABC content, while keeping an eye out for other distressed radio properties he could turn around.
“Whatever we can buy for nothing, we’ll buy,” he said. “They became distressed because of stupid management.”
BBC bosses are poised to offer Sara Cox the Radio 2 Breakfast Show job after Scott Mills’s sacking, insiders told The Sun.
Sources said veteran broadcaster Sara, 51, was seen as the “heir apparent” for the role — which is widely regarded as the best job in radio.
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Sara Cox is being lined up by BBC bosses as the frontrunner to replace sacked Scott Mills on the Radio 2 Breakfast showCredit: GettyA downcast Scott, who hosted the show since January 2025, until being sacked last month, was seen out for the first time todayCredit: Darren FletcherInsiders said they expected Sara, who joined the BBC in 1999 as a Radio 1 DJ, to be offered the job this summerCredit: Getty
Mills, who had hosted the show since January 2025, was dismissed last month.
“Since Scott left, she has been the name which has been discussed as the best candidate and everyone at Radio 2 is saying she will be offered it.
“Sara has made a huge success of her drivetime slot and is hugely popular at the station, plus she’s hosted the Breakfast Show as a stand-in before.
“The BBC won’t be rushing this through as they want the dust to settle. But Sara is the one in line and, as far as her colleagues are concerned, she is the best person for the job.”
Sara, who began a TV career in the 90s, featured on Radio 2 as a cover host for various shows in 2012 while still working for Radio 1.
The mum-of-three landed her first permanent Radio 2 show, hosting Sounds of the 80s on Saturday nights, the following year.
She went on to replace Simon Mayo as the drivetime presenter in 2019 and stood in on the Breakfast Show in 2025.
A PLAQUE dedicating a service station bridge to shamed radio presenter Scott Mills has been removed.
It was put up in 2016 after a light-hearted campaign with his then-Radio 1 co-star Chris Stark — but a customer noticed it had gone this morning.
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Scott Mills was sacked by the BBC last weekCredit: Shutterstock EditorialA plaque dedicating a service station bridge to the shamed radio presenter has been removedCredit: News Group Newspapers ltdIt was put up in 2016 after a light-hearted campaign with Scott’s then-Radio 1 co-star Chris StarkCredit: News Group Newspapers ltd
They said: “I had seen the stories about the bridge with Scott Mills’ name.
“I never really come to this service station but today I did and the plaque has been taken away.
“I’m not surprised really.
“The thing was right by the loos so everyone walking past could have seen it.”
Scott Mills’ ‘work wife’ Tina Daheley has broken her silence on an ‘awful week’Credit: InstagramScott was fired this week over allegations surrounding his ‘personal conduct’Credit: BBCTina shared a photo of her in bed as she recovered from fluCredit: Instagram
The Sun understands that his contract was terminated within five days of the complaint being made.
“I’ve had for the past week (being parent to a primary school aged child is like having a subscription service to viruses!).”
Tina then revealed when she would be returning to her hosting duties.
“Good news is I’m over the worst of it and looking forward to spending two weeks with my family over the Easter hols from tomorrow after what’s been an incredibly difficult past week,” she said.
His Mercedes-Benz Vans Under the Bonnet: On the Road podcast has also been taken off Spotify.
The four part series created in 2025 with the Under the Bonnet report, shone the spotlight on varying issues for van drivers including everything from road conditions to mental health.
It comes after it transpired the broadcaster was questioned by police under caution in 2018 – when he was in his 40s, the Mirror reports.
The interview was related to alleged offences which took place between 1997 and 2000.
The case was dropped in full due to a lack of evidence.
A Metropolitan Police spokesperson told The Mirror: “In December 2016, the Met began an investigation following a referral from another police force.
“The investigation related to allegations of serious sexual offences against a teenage boy.”
The spokesperson said a man, who was in his 40s at the time of the interview, was questioned by police under caution in July 2018.
“A full file of evidence was submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service, who determined the evidential threshold had not been met to bring charges,” the Met said.
“Following this advice, the investigation was closed in May 2019.”
The allegations, which did not result in any charges, were reported to have taken place between 1997 and 2000.
Scott began at Radio 1 in 1998 presenting the early morning slot before earning his own breakfast show The Scott Mills Show.
A BBC spokesperson told The Sun: “While we do not comment on matters relating to individuals, we can confirm Scott Mills is no longer contracted to work with the BBC.”
Scott’s pals have also claimed they ‘can’t reach him’ amid the ‘teen boy sex probe’Credit: Splash
SCOTT Mills was first investigated over sex offences against a teenage boy seven years ago – but only now the BBC has acted.
In a sensational move the BBC pulled Mills off air last Tuesday – with it emerging days later that the axing was linked to a complaint about the 2018 probe into the 53-year-old.
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Officials kept Mills on air for seven years before suddenly dismissing him on MondayCredit: Shutterstock EditorialIn March that year The Sun on Sunday revealed how an investigation was being carried out into an unnamed radio presenter
Mills was questioned over allegations of “serious sexual offences” against a boy who police confirmed was under 16 at the time of the allegations.
The case – said to have taken place between 1997 and 2000 – was later dropped in full due to a lack of evidence.
Officials decided to keep Mills on air for seven years after he informed them of the investigation before suddenly dismissing him on Monday.
It was only after a complaint was made regarding the police probe that Beeb bosses gave Mills the boot.
Mills’ £360,000 a year contract was terminated within five days of the complaint being made.
But the BBC has since apologised for not taking action on an allegation against Scott Mills raised last year. So, as the scandal unfolds, here is what was known and when.
1997 – 2000
The alleged “serious sexual offences” against a boy under 16 take place with Scott Mills joining the BBC in 1988.
Mills initially joined the corporation as a presenter on BBC Radio 1, presenting the early morning slot before earning his own namesake programme The Scott Mills Show.
December 2016
The Metropolitan Police launch a probe into allegations regarding Scott Mills.
The investigation, which related to allegations of serious sexual offences, followed a referral from another police force.
The former Radio 2 host was probed over serious sexual offencesCredit: PA
July 2018
Mills is questioned by police under caution about historical sexual offences against a teenage boy.
The former BBC Radio 2 star told the corporation about the investigation and denied the allegations.
May 2019
After it was decided there wasn’t enough evidence to bring charges against Mills the investigation is closed.
BBC bosses were tonight urged to say why they kept Scott Mills on air while he was probed for sex offences with a boy under 16, only to fire him seven years later.
The Beeb also remain tight-lipped over what changed since their original decision not to act — knowing the star, 53, had been quizzed under caution between 2018 and 2019.
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BBC bosses have been urged to explain why they kept Scott Mills on air while he was probed for sex offencesCredit: Darren FletcherAllegations are reported to relate to events between 1997 and 2000, when Mills was in his 20sCredit: BBC
The allegations are reported to relate to events between 1997 and 2000, when Mills was in his 20s.
Broadcasters and MPs demanded answers over the latest of multiple scandals to rock the corporation in recent years.
TV presenter Piers Morgan said: “I don’t understand. He was investigated by police 10yrs ago over alleged offences 25+ years ago, but no action was taken and case was closed.
“Now he gets instantly fired over same thing? The BBC needs to explain why, surely?”
Insiders have claimed the BBC moved swiftly over Mills following criticism they were slow to act over shamed newsreader Huw Edwards.
Discussing the cases yesterday Radio 2 host Jeremy Vine said: “There is a thought here they decided to treat Scott how they wish they’d treated Huw. Which would be a bit unfair would it not?
“Regarding the inconsistency here, we were told Huw Edwards couldn’t be sacked because he was in a fragile mental state, everything I have read about Scott’s history today goes back to his own anxiety and depression and everything else but there doesn’t seem to be the same break cut for him.”
Tory Shadow Crime Minister Matt Vickers told The Sun: “This pattern of failure by the BBC is letting the public down whilst the institution continues to protect its own reputation over addressing serious internal concerns.
“Time and again, the public are asked to place their trust in an institution that too often seems unwilling to come clean when it matters most.
Mills was sacked as the £360,000-a-year host of Radio 2’s Breakfast ShowCredit: BBCAllegations about Mills were first reported to police in 2012Credit: PAMills is understood not to have spoken to colleagues or pals since being axedCredit: PA:Press Association
“For a broadcaster funded by the public and serving audiences of all ages, any failure to act on safeguarding concerns is unacceptable.”
Mills joined Radio 1 in 1998. Allegations about him were first reported to Hampshire Police by a third party in 2012.
The force logged the details and later passed on information to the Met’s Operation Winter Key.
In December 2016 Winter Key cops launched an investigation.
At that time, Mills was the Drivetime DJ for Radio 1 and hosted the Official Chart Show, which has a target age range of 15-plus.
Mills was interviewed under caution in July 2018 and denied the claims against him.
In March that year The Sun on Sunday revealed how an investigation was being carried out into an unnamed radio presenter.
A file was submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service, which ruled there was insufficient evidence to charge. The investigation was then closed in May 2019.
BBC bosses, including Ben Cooper, the then-controller of Radio 1 and 1Xtra, chose not to take Mills off air despite the investigation.
“Scott said he denied the allegations that had been made against him. Ben stood by Scott and allowed him to continue working while the police investigated.
“Given how serious the complaint was, it raises questions about why the BBC decided to keep him on air on Radio 1 — whose target audience is teenagers — rather than removing him while the police continued the investigation.”
The BBC have now removed Mills from a Race Across The World podcast and pulled scenes he filmed for EastEndersCredit: PAScott Mills joined Radio 1 in 1998Credit: PA
Mr Cooper left his position as the controller of Radio 1 in 2020 after nine years.
Yesterday the Met issued a new statement and confirmed: “In December 2016, the Met began an investigation following a referral from another police force.
“The investigation related to allegations of serious sexual offences against a teenage boy. These were reported to have taken place between 1997 and 2000.
“As part of these enquiries, a man who was in his 40s at the time of the interview, was questioned by police under caution in July 2018.
“A full file of evidence was submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service, who determined the evidential threshold had not been met to bring charges.
“Following this advice, the investigation was closed in May 2019.”
A source said: “The BBC’s second probe into this saw them speaking to Scott, as well as individuals with knowledge of Scott’s dealings with the police in 2018.
“Whatever they discovered this time around clearly was treated more seriously, or given more credence than when it was first discussed with Scott in 2018, as this time they decided to sack him.”
The Sun revealed Huw Edwards paid a teenager thousands of pounds for explicit imagesCredit: PA
KEY MOMENTS IN COPS’ INVESTIGATION
1997-2000:
The alleged incidents take place, with Mills joining BBC Radio 1 in 1998.
DECEMBER 2016:
The Metropolitan Police start looking into claims regarding Mills.
JULY 2018:
Mills is questioned under caution by police about historical serious sexual offences against a teenage boy.
He tells the BBC about the investigation and denies the allegation.
MAY 2019:
The investigation ends as the CPS decide there is not enough evidence to charge.
OCTOBER 2022:
He joins BBC Radio 2, taking over the afternoon slot from Steve Wright.
JANUARY 2025:
Mills takes over as new Radio 2 Breakfast Show host after Zoe Ball stepped down — calling the role his “dream job”.
MARCH 24 2026:
He signs off “See you tomorrow,” in his slot only to be taken off air the following day.
MARCH 25 2026:
An investigation begins at BBC into the 2016 complaint.
MARCH 30 2026:
The BBC announce Mills is sacked and no longer works for the BBC.
MARCH 31 2026:
Metropolitan Police confirm the boy at the centre of the investigation was under 16 at time of the alleged offences.
APRIL 1 2026:
Insiders tell The Sun the BBC was aware of the investigation in 2018 after Mills told them about it and denied the allegations.
Insiders at the BBC also pointed to Channel 5’s documentary, Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards, as a possible reason for the complainant to contact the BBC.
It came after The Sun revealed Edwards paid a teenager thousands of pounds for explicit images.
The source added: “With the timing of the Huw film it makes sense why the person at the centre of the original (Mills) complaint may have decided to speak to the BBC again.
“Many in the BBC are saying the timing doesn’t feel like a coincidence.
“The drama showed actions do have consequences.” Separately, The Telegraph reported former BBC presenter Anna Brees contacted the Beeb in May 2025 to say she had received information about alleged “inappropriate communications” involving Mills.
She also asked whether the BBC had ever received any “formal or informal complaints” about Mills “relating to safeguarding, inappropriate conduct or harassment” and whether it had ever conducted an internal investigation into him.
She did not receive a response. The BBC admitted her information “should have been followed up and we should have asked further questions”.
There is no suggestion the inquiries by Ms Brees related to the same alleged victim whose complaint to the police led to Mills being questioned in 2018.
BBC bosses were left with “no choice” but to sack Mills after being passed compelling new information, it was claimed last night.
The Mirror reported the fresh details are different to the claims probed by police in 2016 but relate to the same complainant.
Yesterday charity Neuroblastoma UK dropped him as a patron. Dermot O’Leary who hosts the Saturday morning Breakfast Show, said yesterday: “This was a shock to everyone. It came from nowhere.”
Insiders said the BBC were now discussing who would take over the Breakfast Show – which in the latest round of Rajar figures in February revealed Mills had 6.5million listeners.
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.
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BBC colleagues gasped in shock as news broke of Scott Mills’ sudden axingCredit: BBCScott Mills with Zoe Ball after he was named as her replacement on the Radio 2 Breakfast ShowCredit: PA
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.
“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.”
Mills with pro dancer Joanne Clifton on Strictly in 2014Credit: HandoutThe sacked DJ with husband Sam winning Celebrity Race Across The World in 2024Credit: PA
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.”
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.
Scott Mills taken off Radio 2 unexpectedly after handing over to colleague Vernon KayCredit: AlamyMills was slated to host Eurovision this yearCredit: PA
“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 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 CelebrityRace 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.
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.
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.
Mills 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 screenedCredit: PAIt remains unclear who will replace Mills on the prime time slotCredit: BBC
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.
When he announced he was leaving Radio 1, Scott said: “Time actually does fly when you’re having fun, and that’s certainly been the case over the past 24 years at my beloved Radio 1.
“The station I pretended to be on in my bedroom from the age of six.
“The station I told my mum I wanted to work at, but never in a million years thought I would.”
Scott has commentated on Eurovision
What else has Scott Mills presented?
Scott has also appeared on a number of TV Shows.
From 2006-2007 he appeared as a reporter Paul Lang in the medical soap Casualty.
He has also been a contestant on Never Mind The Buzzcocks, Supermarket Sweep, Mastermind and Most Haunted.
VERNON Kay stopped his BBC Radio 2 show to announce the death of his beloved colleague, station chief Ian Deeley.
The radio star paid tribute to his “larger than life” station manager Ian, 45, who passed away unexpectedly.
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Beloved BBC station chief Ian Deeley died unexpectedly aged 45Credit: LinkedinBBC radio star Vernon Kay offered condolences to his colleague’s familyCredit: Alamy
Ian’s cause of death remains unknown, with Vernon saying “the BBC family were devastated to hear that our brilliant studio manager, Ian Deeley.”
Vernon, 51, hailed his colleague’s passion for radio, saying Ian loved his job and had worked on most BBC radio stations.
The presenter went on to say: “Even though he was a relatively young chap, Ian had a long and illustrious career, during which he pretty much worked on every BBC radio station.
“His time at the BBC started with news shifts followed by production work and more recently, Ian was working with our colleagues on the outside broadcast team, or ‘the Broadside Outcasts’ as he jokingly called them.
“With the OB team, Ian worked on all manner of big radio stuff, including pop festivals, BBC Proms and numerous royal events.
“The one that stands out for us and our little team is the one where Ian personally made sure that our show from the beaches of Normandy a few years ago went seamlessly – and it did.
“Ian was our lead engineer on our D-Day [80th] celebrations and he was so dedicated that he went on a [reconnaissance trip] over to France in his own time, just to make sure everything was up to his incredible high standard.”
Vernon added: “Ian loved working with us here at Radio 2 and I know one of his career highlights was working with our friend, Steve Wright, he was thrilled to be able to be a part of the big show and as ‘one of the top operatives’ as Steve called him.
“Steve always said, ‘Ian, keep it cranked’ and he did.”
The radio star would go on to offer condolences to Ian’s mum, partner and brother on behalf of the Radio 2 staff.
Later in the show, Vernon thanked his listeners after they sent in some words of condolence.
Paying tribute to Ian himself Vernon said: “As an engineer, there were few better but there are also so many things we can say about Ian, the person.
“He was an exuberant, larger-than-life character who was always enthusiastic and brought a smile to everyone’s faces.”
He went on to say that he and his colleagues would miss Ian’s “quick wit.”
Hailing the work Ian and other team members do Vernon added: “As you can imagine at Radio 2, it’s not just the names in the Radio Times who do all the work.
“We do very little, we just talk when we put up the fader, I’ll be honest with you, myself and every on-air name included.
“It’s the massive team behind Radio 2 that make this network so successful.”
Vernon offered a personal tribute to the station managerCredit: Getty
The announcement of the end of CBS News Radio last Friday was met with elegiac tributes to the service that built the foundation of William Paley’s company nearly 100 years ago and brought the heroic work of journalists such as Edward R. Murrow to millions of listeners.
But for the 700 affiliates carrying CBS News Radio, the concerns are more practical as they are faced with finding new national programming that will replace it. CBS Radio News will go silent on May 22.
The shutdown of the historic radio division was part of a division-wide staff cut that will affect 6% of the CBS News workforce. Affiliate stations learned of the decision only minutes before it was released to the press.
The local all-news radio stations carrying the service had to post messages on social media to assure listeners that they were not disappearing — only the national newscasts that were provided by CBS.
KNX, the all-news station in Los Angeles that has carried CBS programming since 1936, posted a lengthy segment on the impending closure and explained how “KNX News is not going anywhere.”
KNX was owned by CBS until 2017. The New York-based Audacy, under its previous name Entercom, acquired the CBS radio stations in 2017. KNX and the other Audacy news stations such as WBBM in Chicago, KCBS in San Francisco and WWJ in Detroit remained CBS affiliates, carrying the hourly CBS newscasts.
The Audacy all-news outlets, which reach around 9 million listeners a month, provided about one-third of U.S. coverage for CBS News Radio, the most of any station group carrying the service.
Audacy said it will find a replacement for CBS News Radio to provide national and international coverage, noting that the mission of its all-news stations will not be affected.
“The vast majority of our news and talk programming remains original and locally-produced, and we are beginning conversations with other national news providers to ensure our listeners continue to have access to world-class programming they value and trust.” said Chris Oliviero, chief business officer for Audacy.
Educating the listening public and advertisers that the stations will be fundamentally the same once CBS is gone will require some effort. KNX and the other Audacy all-news stations have a long association with CBS, which launched their formats starting in the late 1960s.
Along with the hourly newscasts, the stations carried “The Osgood Files,” a massively popular commentary segment hosted by the late former “CBS Sunday Morning” host Charles Osgood, for 46 years until 2017. The jingles and sounders used to identify CBS News network programming heard on the stations for decades have also been part of the listening experience.
Among the possible replacements for CBS News Radio is ABC News Audio, which is the largest network radio news service in the U.S. with 1,500 affiliates. The Audacy stations currently use ABC News content outside of its hourly newscasts.
KFI-AM currently carries the ABC News Audio newscasts in Los Angeles. Exclusivity of the ABC News Audio affiliations are determined on a market-by-market basis, according to a representative at the network.
Fox News Media, the home of the conservative-leaning cable channel, also offers a radio service with hourly newscasts and dedicated reporters, which airs on several hundred stations (the company does not supply a specific number).
While Fox News Radio delivers straight reporting, the service is likely to find a home on some of the conservative talk stations that are currently CBS News affiliates.
In a stunning move, CBS News is shutting down its radio division, getting out of the medium where its storied history began nearly 100 years ago.
CBS News Radio will stop offering its service to its 700 affiliate stations on May 22.
“While this was a necessary decision, it was not an easy one,” the company said in a memo obtained by The Times. “A shift in radio station programming strategies, coupled with challenging economic realities, has made it impossible to continue the service.”
CBS sold its own radio stations in 2017, but continued to offer hourly network newscasts to affiliate stations, including “World News Roundup,” which has been on the air since 1938. Legendary CBS News journalist Edward R. Murrow delivered his first report on the program.
The news of the shutdown comes as dozens of CBS News employees are learning Friday if they have a future at the struggling news division.
A morning email from CBS News President Tom Cibrowski and editor-in-chief Bari Weiss that was obtained by The Times said staff affected by a new round of job reductions will be notified by the end of the day. About 6% of the 1,000 CBS News employees will be affected.
The cuts had been hinted at earlier this year by Weiss, when she said her business goal for the division is to expand its reach on digital platforms. Weiss and Cibrowski raised the same issue in their note informing employees of the cuts.
“It’s no secret that the news business is changing radically, and that we need to change along with it,” they wrote. “New audiences are burgeoning in new places and we are pressing forward with ambitious plans to grow and invest so that we can be there for them.”
CBS News has been dealing with a decline in revenue for its TV programs, as viewers have gravitated toward streaming platforms and social media.
The network’s daily programs “CBS Evening News with Tony Dokoupil” and “CBS Mornings,” both run well behind their competition in the ratings. It does have two strong weekend franchises in “60 Minutes” and “CBS Sunday Morning.”
CBS News is expected to be under the same corporate ownership as CNN once parent company Paramount closes its $111 billion deal to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery. The two divisions are likely to share news gathering costs, which could lead to the closure of bureaus and a reduction of personnel.
Weiss had joined CBS News earlier that month and was not directly involved in the staff reductions. She is said to be more personally involved in the cuts occurring Friday.
ABSOLUTE Radio DJ Andy Bush has revealed heartless scammers have stolen his elderly parents’ life savings.
In total, the devastated couple, both 78, were swindled out of £16,000 in an elaborate scheme that used Money Saving Expert Martin Lewis‘s trusted name to entice them.
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Absolute Radio’s Andy Bush has revealed his parents have been scammed by fraudstersCredit: AlamyThe scam used a fake ad that used Martin Lewis’s trusted reputationCredit: ITV
A ‘broker’ going by the name of ‘John’ gained Andy’s dad’s trust after he clicked into an online link promising to maximise his savings. In reality, Good Morning Britain star Martin had no affiliation with the advert at all.
Andy, who hosts Hometime with Bush&Richie, told The Sun: “They’re really humiliated.
“My dad’s an ex-computer programmer, systems analyst. So he feels someone like him, who’s had a job like that, shouldn’t be falling for a scam like this. So they feel very, very humiliated.
“I feel like a lot of their kind of plans and dreams have kind of gone up in smoke a little bit because that little nest egg that they had to go and do nice retirement stuff is now suddenly completely gone.”
Andy’s dad has memory issues, which his son believes made him more susceptible to the scam. Neither Andy, nor his brother, had any idea his parents were moving around large sums of money, and he believes they were coerced by ‘John’ not to tell anyone.
Once his dad had clicked the dodgy link, a portal opened to ‘John’ who was then on the phone to them “non-stop”.
Andy likened it to a romance scam and said his parents told him they would speak to ‘John’ on the phone two or three times a day.
“Even when it all came to light that it was a scam, my mum still wouldn’t believe that John, lovely John, would do this to them. So, they really bought into him as a person,” said Andy.
‘John’ set up a Revolut account on Andy’s parents behalf and began transferring large chunks of money from their TSB savings account.
He coached them on what to say to TSB agents when they queried the transfers — though Andy is upset that the bank didn’t do more to clamp down on the out of character money movements.
“Every time they transferred a chunk of £5,000, £6,000 or whatever, TSB would phone up and go, ‘just making sure you’re not transferring this to whatever’. And they would say, ‘no, no, it’s for this, that or whatever’,” he said.
‘John’ then instructed them to put an app on each of their phones, which allowed him to have full access to all their details and to see what they were doing on their devices.
He also installed a fake crypto exchange that showed their money rising at an impressive rate when in reality it had all but disappeared.
Eventually, Andy found out something was amiss when his mum asked if she could borrow £4,000 in order to deposit it into her account to pass an ‘anti-money laundering check’.
Alarm bells immediately rang and Andy asked her to show him the email from ‘John’. Upon seeing it, he said he knew “straight away” that it was fraudulent.
In the meantime, ‘John’ had arranged a £4,000 loan with M&S Bank, which led to Andy’s parents having to cancel their cards after multiple payments began to be made on them.
Andy’s intervention didn’t immediately put an end to the scamming.
DJ Andy, seen here with Michael Fassbender, said his parents feel humiliatedCredit: Alamy
Two days later, his parents received an email from a fake cryptocurrency loss recovery company that claimed it could recover their stolen money.
The fresh scam asked for forms to be submitted and a £3,000 payment paid. Andy said he believed the original scammers were behind it.
Even though, his parents’ phones have been wiped, he said there are still concerns the scammers have access.
Andy and his parents have now instructed CEL Solicitors who specialise in recouping money lost to fraud and have contacted the police.
CEL told him that they deal with 500 such cases a month and some £500m is stolen from people each year in total.
He said: “I’ve had so many messages from people who have not just had their parents scammed like this, but a woman in her 30s was scammed out of money when her baby was seven days old because she wasn’t concentrating properly and just pressed the button. You know, young people, old people.
“My mum and dad don’t know who to trust now.
“It’s brought up some really horrible conversations. My mum and dad have always been very outgoing and doing different things, and they’ve always got plans and all that kind of stuff. Now they have to run pretty much everything past me and my brother just to double-check that they’re not being scammed again.”
HOW TO NOT GET CAUGHT OUT BY A SCAM
Follow these tips by Virgin Money to avoid being caught in a trap…
Protect your details
Never disclose security details, such as your PIN, full banking password or one-time passcode to anyone, even bank staff.
A genuine bank or organisation will never ask you for these on the phone.
Don’t assume an email, text or phone call is authentic.
Just because someone knows your basic details (such as your name and address or even your mother’s maiden name), it doesn’t mean they are genuine.
Remember, criminals can also make any telephone number appear on your phone handset so even if you recognise it or it seems authentic, do not use it as verification they are genuine.
Don’t be rushed
A genuine organisation won’t mind waiting. Under no circumstances would a genuine bank or some other trusted organisation force you to make a financial transaction on the spot.
Always remember: Stop. Think. Check.
Listen to your instincts
You know if something doesn’t feel right.
Criminals may lull you into a false sense of security when you are out and about or rely on your defences being down when you’re in the comfort of your own home.
Stay in control
Don’t panic and make a decision you’ll regret. Have the confidence to refuse unusual requests for personal or financial information.
It’s easy to feel embarrassed when faced with unexpected or complex conversations. But it’s okay to stop the discussion if you do not feel in control of it.
FEARNE Cotton has revealed she felt “shamed, stared at and ignored” by colleagues after the arrest of her former boyfriend Ian Watkins.
While she does not mention him by name, the former Radio 1 star discusses a “life-altering” news story connected to her in her new book.
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In her new book, Fearne has admitted she felt shunned by colleagues at Radio 1 after the Lostprophets singer’s arrestCredit: GettyFearne dated Ian Watkins for around a year in the mid 2000s, prior to his conviction for child sex offencesCredit: Rex
In Likeable, released this week, the former BBCRadio 1 host hints at the difficult period she endured after the Lostprophets frontman admitted to 13 child sex offences.
The now 44-year-old recalls being live on air when “a horrible news story that doesn’t involve me yet has a tenuous and life-altering link to me will be broadcast on my own radio show again that day”.
Fearne briefly dated Lostprophets frontman Watkins in the mid-2000s after the pair met at the Kerrang! Awards.
The relationship is believed to have lasted around a year, and the presenter largely kept it out of the spotlight at the time.
His offending only came to light years after the pair had split.
Watkins was arrested in 2012 over child sex offences and convicted the following year, during which time Fearne was hosting BBC Radio 1’s weekday mid-morning show.
The radio star wrote: “I feel simultaneously glared at, stared at, yet utterly ignored by those in the office.
“Are they all talking about me behind my back? Or am I a narcissist for thinking that?”
Ian Watkins later pleaded guilty to offences including the attempted rape of a child and was jailed for 29 years in 2013.
In quotes obtained by The Mirror, Fearne writes that she struggled with intense shame and nausea as she tried to keep broadcasting.
Fearne was presenting on Radio One at the time of Ian’s arrestCredit: BBCFearne has hinted she struggled to work following the news of her ex’s arrestCredit: Getty
Trying to push through, she explained that she “shoved down the anger, the rage, the sorrow and tears” in order to keep going, describing the period as one of “depression and a heaviness”.
However, she said she has since worked through those feelings in therapy and realised the shame was never hers to carry.
Instead, she wrote that it “belongs to others” and mostly the men from her past.
The mother-of-two added: “Men who have shamed me, treated me badly and left me lumbered with it.”
