BBC Executives Aware of Scott Mills' Police Investigation for Alleged Sex Offenses Against Minor Yet Continued His On-Air Role

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 between 2018 and 2019.

BBC bosses have been urged to explain why they kept Scott Mills on air while he was probed for sex offencesCredit: Darren Fletcher Allegations are reported to relate to events between 1997 and 2000, when Mills was in his 20sCredit: BBC

are reported to relate to events between 1997 and 2000, when Mills was in his 20s.

At the weekend, he was of 2’s Breakfast Show following a second probe.

Broadcasters and MPs demanded answers over the latest of multiple scandals to rock the corporation in recent years.

TV presenter said: “I don’t understand. He was investigated by 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 needs to explain why, surely?”

Insiders have claimed the BBC moved swiftly over Mills following criticism they were slow to act over shamed newsreader .

Discussing the cases yesterday host : “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 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 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: BBC Allegations about Mills were first reported to police in 2012Credit: PA Mills 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 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 revealed how an investigation was being carried out into an unnamed radio presenter.

A file was submitted to the , 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.

A source said: “The BBC knew , he told them.

“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 — 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: PA Scott Mills joined Radio 1 in 1998Credit: PA

Mr Cooper left his position as the controller of Radio 1 in 2020 after nine years.

Yesterday 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.”

The Sun understands the after the complaint was raised with the corporation again.

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

Insiders at the BBC also pointed to Channel 5’s documentary, , as a possible reason for the complainant to contact the BBC.

The 90-minute film, screened last week, saw , who pleaded guilty in 2024 to three counts of making indecent images of children.

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 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.

Mills, who is married to Sam Vaughan and lives in London, is understood since being axed.

The BBC have and pulled scenes he filmed for .

Yesterday 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.”

today and tomorrow before OJ Borg takes on the Breakfast Show on Bank Holiday Friday and Monday.

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.