Richard Bacon reveals he’s ‘worried’ about Scott Mills after BBC sacking

Scott Mills’ friends are unable to reach him (Picture: Getty; BBC Radio 2)
Richard Bacon has claimed he’s ‘worried’ about Scott Mills after he was fired from the BBC over allegations of ‘serious sexual offences against a boy under 16’.

An investigation started in 2016 over incidents reported to have taken place between 1997 and 2000, but no charges were brought.

A statement from the BBC said: ‘While we do not comment on matters relating to individuals, we can confirm Scott Mills is no longer contracted to work with the BBC.’

Sharing his concerns, Blue Peter icon and former BBC Radio 5 Live Bacon, 50, said Mills will ‘struggle to walk down the street’ after the scandal, amid reports that friends are unable to get through to the presenter.

He wrote: ‘I’m worried too. There may well be something we can’t see – so we wait.

‘But if it’s mostly what we can see. Then that is a giant thing to do to a human being. Whose identity and self-worth likely largely come from that job. He’ll now struggle to walk down the street.’

He was fired from the BBC over historic allegations (Picture: BBC/Owen Scurfield)
He added that it’s ‘hard to believe Mills is a bad person’, writing: ‘This is a giant humiliation.

‘It’s a dangerous thing to do, unless there’s a really really really clear reason. I guess we don’t know right now. But it needs to be an incontrovertible really big reason. It’s hard to believe he’s a bad person.’

Mills had been missing from the Radio 2 Breakfast Show for a week after saying ‘see you tomorrow’ to listeners on Tuesday, March 24, as he signed off.

A source close to the presenter has told The Sun he has ‘completely shut down’ and is not responding to attempts to communicate.

‘Scott was told about the allegation in a meeting with senior staff present,’ they shared. ‘He was tense.’

The insider continued: ‘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.’

Mills has not made a statement regarding the accusations and has not been publicly seen since his firing.

Richard Bacon said he’s ‘worried’ after Scott Mills’ axe from the BBC (Picture: Getty)

Mills took over from Zoe Ball to present the Breakfast Show on Radio 2 (Picture: James Manning/PA Wire)

He signed off last week, saying he’d be back tomorrow(Picture: Sarah Jeynes/BBC)
An email sent to staff by BBC’s director of music, Lorna Clarke, suggested the dismissal was ‘sudden’ and ‘unexpected’ for his colleagues.

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: ‘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.’

They continued: ‘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.’

Mills had been one of the BBC’s top presenters, with a salary of £315,000 to £319,999 in 2024 after replacing Zoe Ball.

Mills first joined Radio 1 in 1998, hosting the early breakfast slot before going on to launch his most recognisable show in 2004.

He later fronted Radio 1’s Official Chart from 2018 to 2022, but after 24 years at the station, moved to Radio 2, taking over the weekday afternoon 2pm–4pm slot from the late Steve Wright.