Former BBC Radio 2 presenter Scott Mills has issued his first public statement since his sacking by the broadcaster, addressing a previous police investigation into alleged sex crimes.In a statement issued by his lawyer, Mills said he had been the subject of “rumors and speculation” following his sudden exit.He said: “The recent announcement of the termination of my contract with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) led to the spread of rumors and speculation.”Mills confirmed that he was the person at the center of the investigation, adding that police investigated the allegation made in 2016 and that he “cooperated fully” with the authorities.He noted that the Public Prosecution concluded that there was insufficient evidence to bring charges, and the case was closed in 2019.The allegation goes back nearly three decades, and the investigation was closed years ago, Mills said, adding that he hopes the public will respect his decision not to comment further.“I would like to thank… my former colleagues and dear listeners who I miss dearly,” he said.
Why was he fired?
The BBC terminated Mills’ contract last week after receiving “new information” in recent weeks, despite knowing about the investigation as early as 2017.A Broadcasting Corporation spokesman said the broadcaster had acted “decisively” in line with its internal standards and cultural reforms.
What was it about
The Metropolitan Police launched an investigation in 2016 into allegations of serious sexual offenses involving a teenager under 16, said to have occurred between 1997 and 2000.Mills was questioned 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 announced.
Career and repercussions
Despite the closure of the investigation, Mills continued his rise within the BBC and continued to host the Breakfast Show on Radio 2, one of the UK’s most prominent broadcast programmes.Its last show aired in March, after which it was abruptly taken off the air.
He signed “come back tomorrow” but never came back.Separately, a children’s charity he was associated with also parted ways with him following the controversy.The BBC said it was reviewing what was known internally about the case after it emerged that the organization had known about the investigation years earlier.The broadcaster stressed its commitment to improving workplace culture, and said it would take action when standards are not met.
