Former BBC Radio 2 presenter Scott Mills has issued his first public statement since being sacked by the broadcaster, addressing a previous police investigation into alleged sex offences.In a statement released through his lawyers, Mills said he had become the subject of “rumor and speculation” following his sudden exit.He said, “The recent announcement that I am no longer contracted with the BBC has fueled rumor and speculation.”Confirming that he was the person at the center of the investigation, Mills said that an allegation made in 2016 had been investigated by police and that he had “fully co-operated” with authorities.He said the Crown Prosecution Service had concluded there was insufficient evidence to lay charges, and the case was closed in 2019.Mills said that while the allegations are nearly three decades old and the investigation was closed several years ago, he hopes the public will respect his decision not to comment further.He said, “I want to thank my former colleagues and my beloved listeners, whom I miss very much.”
why was he fired
The BBC terminated Mills’ contract last week after receiving “new information” in recent weeks, despite having been aware of the investigation since early 2017.A spokesperson said the broadcaster had acted “decisively” in line with its internal standards and culture reforms.
what was the matter
The Metropolitan Police began an investigation in 2016 into allegations of serious sexual offenses involving a teenage boy under the age of 16, which occurred between 1997 and 2000.Mills was interrogated under caution in 2018. However, prosecutors later ruled that the evidentiary threshold had not been met, and no charges were filed.The identity of the alleged victim has not been made public.
Career and results
Despite the closure of the investigation, Mills continued his rise within the BBC and hosted the Radio 2 Breakfast Show, one of the UK’s most prominent broadcasting slots.His last show was aired in March, after which he was suddenly taken off air. He had signed off saying “back tomorrow”, but did not return.Separately, the children’s charity he was associated with has also severed ties with him following the controversy.The BBC said it was reviewing what was known internally about the case, after it emerged that the organization knew about the investigation years ago.The broadcaster reiterated its commitment to improving workplace culture and said action would be taken if standards were not met.
