THE OUTGOING BBC Director General Tim Davie has said it became “very clear” the broadcaster had to sack Scott Mills.
Addressing staff on his last day in the post, Davie confirmed the decision to axe the Radio 2 host was made after “new information” came to light.
BBC chiefs reportedly sacked Mills after learning the alleged victim in his police sex offences probe was under 16.
They only became aware of the age of the alleged victim in recent weeks, BBC News reports.
The broadcaster admitted yesterday it knew about the investigation into the Radio 2 host for nine years.
And speaking to his colleagues today, Davie said the BBC was trying to “act fairly” after axing Mills.
He said: “It was new information quite recently that we received that made it very clear about the decision we had to make.”
It comes as:
“When something happens where I think there’s a lot of grief, there’s a lot of shock.
“I think all I would say is we’re trying to act as the leadership with kindness.”
It is not clear if management at the time of the Met Police investigation in 2017 knew the age of the teen.
But swift action is believed to have been taken this week after the broadcaster learned of the alleged victim’s age.
Mills’ £360,000 a year contract was terminated within five days of the complaint being made.
Insiders claim the BBC moved swiftly over Mills following criticism they were slow to act over shamed newsreader Huw Edwards.
Tim Davie quit in November and will finally leave today following a scandal over how BBC Panorama edited a speech by Donald Trump in 2021.
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.
2017: The BBC are made aware
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: The Sun reveals that the BBC was aware of the investigation in 2018 after Mills told them about it and denied the allegations.
The US President has brought a multi-billion dollar defamation lawsuit against the corporation.
The deceitful documentary was just the latest bungle at the corporation during Davie’s almost six-year stint.
Matt Brittin, who left Google in 2025 after 18 years, will take over the £565,000 role next month.
Rhodri Talfan Davies will lead the BBC until then as Interim Director General.
Speaking out last night for the first time since his sacking, Mills said he had “fully cooperated” with police when questioned in 2018.
The ex-face of the flagship Breakfast show said he has been subject to “rumour and speculation” since the BBC announced his axing.
The former Radio 2 host confirmed evidence was submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service, but the threshold to bring charges was not met.
Mills added that the allegation dated back nearly three decades and the police probe had been fully closed seven years ago.
He thanked his former colleagues and “beloved listeners” for messages of kindness in the days following his sensational sacking.
Mills said he would not be making any further comment on the matter.
Mills joined Radio 1 in 1998, with allegations about him first reported to Hampshire Police by a third party in 2016.
The force logged the details and later passed on information to the Met’s Operation Winter Key, with an investigation launched in December.
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.
A file was submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service, which ruled there was insufficient evidence to charge.
BBC bosses, including Ben Cooper, the then-controller of Radio 1 and 1Xtra, chose not to take Mills off air despite the investigation.
