Scott Mills has left the BBC and is no longer presenting the Radio 2 Breakfast Show, the corporation has confirmed.
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.”
Mills, 53, took over Radio 2’s breakfast programme from Zoe Ball in January 2025. On his final show on Tuesday 24 March, he signed off in the usual way, telling listeners: “Back tomorrow.”
However, the following morning, Gary Davies opened the programme by telling listeners he was “in for Scott Mills”.
In an email to staff on Monday, the BBC’s director of music, Lorna Clarke, said: “I know that this news will be sudden and unexpected and therefore must come as a shock.
“Not least as so many of us have worked with Scott over a great many years, across a broad range of our programmes on R1, 5Live, R2 and TV.
“I felt it was important to share this news with you at the earliest opportunity.”
She added: “Of course, it will also come as a shock to our audience and loyal breakfast show listeners too. I will update everyone with more information on plans for the show when I’m able to. While I appreciate many of you will have questions, I hope you can understand that I am not going to be saying anything further now.”
At the start of his Radio 2 programme at midday, Jeremy Vine said he had been “taken aback” by the news and had “no further information” beyond what had been broadcast in the bulletin.
Mills joined Radio 2’s weekday schedule in 2022, replacing Steve Wright in the afternoon slot, after a long run on Radio 1, where he had worked since 1998.
When he was announced as Zoe Ball’s successor, he described the role as a “lifelong dream come true”.
He said: “It feels ever since recording my first shows as a kid for an audience of one, my mum, all roads since have led to this amazing opportunity. It really is a lifelong dream come true to follow in the footsteps of Sir Terry, Chris and Zoe to be the new presenter of the Radio 2 Breakfast Show.”
His breakfast programme had recently posted its highest audience since he took over, with 6.47 million weekly listeners in the latest RAJAR figures.
Beyond radio, Mills had recently been announced as one of the hosts of Race Across the World: The Detour, a new companion podcast for the BBC series, alongside former winner Alfie Watts. The BBC had also confirmed the new show earlier this month.
He has also been part of the BBC’s Eurovision coverage in recent years, including commentary on the semi-finals.
The Mirror reported that Mills had been taken off air last week while the BBC assessed an allegation relating to his personal conduct, and that the claim related to a historic relationship dating back more than a decade. The BBC has not publicly commented further on the nature of the allegation.
Questions remain over both the circumstances of Mills’ departure and who will now take over the Radio 2 Breakfast Show.
COMMENTS