Jeremy Vine Reveals Radio 2's 'Shock and Grief' Over Scott Mills Sacking
Radio 2 presenter Jeremy Vine has disclosed that the BBC station was left in a state of "shock and grief" following the sudden sacking of colleague Scott Mills over historical allegations of serious sexual offences. The veteran broadcaster, who was preparing to go on air when the news broke, initially assumed it was an "AI spoof" or a "virus in his laptop," highlighting the unexpected nature of the announcement.
Contrast with Huw Edwards Case
Vine described Mills, 53, as a "very popular bloke" among colleagues, noting that BBC management provided very little reasoning for his dismissal at the time. In stark contrast, he characterised former BBC newsreader Huw Edwards, who pleaded guilty in 2024 to making indecent images of children, as a "bully." Vine elaborated that Edwards, who stepped down from his role in July 2023 before formally leaving in April 2024, was a very private and unknowable individual.
"I'm not drawing comparisons with Huw Edwards, but Huw was not a popular person. Scott was very well-liked," Vine told The Telegraph. "With Huw, his great skill was to bully upwards. He's the only person I've ever seen who didn't bully underlings, he bullied his bosses."
Allegations and Police Involvement
The alleged offences are said to have occurred between 1997 and 2000, when Mills was in his mid-20s. Mills was questioned by police under caution in 2018, but the Crown Prosecution Service rejected the case the following year due to insufficient evidence. Vine revealed that he sent Mills a text message on the day the sacking was announced, stating, "I hold you in the highest regard and I wish you all the best," but noted this was before the Metropolitan Police disclosed that the alleged victim was aged between 13 and 16.
Vine emphasised that the entire episode has been "draining and upsetting" for everyone at Radio 2, underscoring the emotional toll on the broadcasting team.
Internal BBC Reaction
The broadcaster previously disclosed that he only learned of Mills' sacking when he read it on the BBC website 17 minutes before going on air. Addressing the issue on his 12pm radio show, Vine said, "Obviously, I was taken aback by that opening story to the news. I had not heard anything about it until 17 minutes ago, when it was on the BBC website, and I only had the information that was given to you in the bulletin."
Insiders have spoken about the shock that reverberated through the BBC when it emerged Mills was out of his £355,000-a-year job. BBC News correspondent Sima Kotecha revealed that "gasps filled the newsroom" at the news, describing it as "mega news." She added, "We don't know why he's been sacked but we do know that it will surely be unwelcome news. The fact that the bosses had to do this means there must be something potentially very significant here to let one of their big names go."
Mills' Career and Personal Life
Earlier this week, Mills was pictured for the first time since his dismissal, hiding behind sunglasses and a baseball cap while walking in his neighbourhood with his husband of two years. Mills took over the Radio 2 breakfast show from Zoe Ball in 2025, after a career that began on Radio 1 in the late 1990s. He married his long-term partner Sam Vaughan at a celebrity-studded wedding in Barcelona in 2024, the year they won Celebrity Race Across The World together.
His broadcasting history includes:
- Presenting weekend slots and an early evening show on Radio 1
- Hosting The Scott Mills Show after providing maternity cover for Sara Cox
- Joining Radio 2 in 2022, replacing Steve Wright in the weekday afternoon slot
- Presenting a weekend show on Radio 5 Live
- Appearing on series 12 of Strictly Come Dancing, paired with Joanne Clifton
- Commentating for the Eurovision Song Contest on the BBC
The sacking has left a significant mark on Radio 2, with Vine's revelations shedding light on the internal turmoil and contrasting personalities within the BBC's ranks.
