The BBC has disclosed it was informed in 2017 about an ongoing police investigation involving Scott Mills—seven years before terminating the presenter’s contracts last Friday following what the Corporation described as receipt of “new information” in recent weeks.
A Corporation spokesman confirmed on Tuesday that officials had been made aware of the probe, which subsequently closed in 2019 without arrest or charges being filed, whilst acknowledging “we are doing more work to understand the detail of what was known by the BBC at this time.”
The statement represents the broadcaster’s first substantive comment since announcing Mills’ departure on Monday, ending his 27-year career across Radio 1, Radio 2 and television that made him one of the BBC’s highest-paid personalities earning between £355,000 and £359,999 annually.
“Scott Mills had a long career across the BBC, he was hugely popular and we know the news this week has come as a shock and surprise to many,” the spokesman stated, acknowledging “much speculation in the media and online since Monday.”
The Corporation emphasised limitations on public disclosure, stating: “We hope people understand that there is a limit to what we can say because we have to be mindful of the rights of those involved.”
However, officials confirmed that “in recent weeks, we obtained new information relating to Scott and we spoke directly with him. As a result, the BBC acted decisively in line with our culture and values and terminated his contracts on Friday 27 March.”
The spokesman positioned the dismissal within broader institutional reform efforts following an independent culture review that established “behavioural expectations for everyone who works with or for the BBC,” warning “action would be taken if these were not met.”
Mills’ final Radio 2 breakfast show aired on Tuesday, 24 March, when he signed off telling listeners: “Back tomorrow”—though DJ Gary Davies assumed presenting duties the following day, announcing he was “in for Scott Mills.”
The 53-year-old had assumed control of the prestigious breakfast programme from Zoe Ball in January 2025, representing the pinnacle of his lengthy BBC tenure. His departure follows convictions of other high-profile Corporation personalities including News at Ten presenter Huw Edwards for making indecent images of children in 2024.
The BBC’s acknowledgement it possessed knowledge of the 2017 police investigation raises questions about what information executives held and whether that influenced employment decisions during the intervening years before his 2026 dismissal.
