Scott Mills' Career Almost Ended Before Radio 2 Breakfast Show Role
BBC radio presenter Scott Mills has disclosed how perilously close he came to being sacked by the corporation long before he was announced as Zoe Ball's successor on the BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show. Mills, who recently left the BBC, admitted that his employment was nearly terminated years prior to this week's departure, despite his lengthy tenure with the broadcaster since 1998.
Boozy Brit Awards Incident Nearly Cost Mills His Job
During a conversation with fellow presenter Dermot O'Leary, Mills recounted a drunken altercation that followed a night out after the Brit Awards in 2001. The revelation came after O'Leary played a clip of Mills slurring his words on his early morning Radio 1 show from that year. Mills described the moment as a critical juncture where bosses almost removed him from his role.
"That's called how to really nearly lose your job at BBC," Mills confessed. "I had got carried away so much at the Brit Awards, because I had never been there before, and time just fast-forwarded, and somebody went, what time are you on air?"
He explained that when informed it was already two in the morning, with his show scheduled for four, he realised the severity of his situation. "Oh no! It was horrendous," he added, acknowledging his actions were "naive and stupid" and that his bosses were "quite rightly" furious.
Mills' Departure from the BBC Confirmed
This admission coincides with the confirmation that Mills is no longer under contract with the BBC. A spokesperson stated on Monday: "While we do not comment on matters relating to individuals, we can confirm Scott Mills is no longer contracted to work with the BBC."
Lorna Clarke, Director of Music, issued a statement to staff, noting: "I wanted to personally let you know that Scott Mills has left the Breakfast show, and the BBC. I know that this news will be sudden and unexpected and therefore must come as a shock."
Zoe Ball's Unexpected Role in Mills' Career
Mills' career trajectory saw him presenting the 2-4pm slot on BBC Radio 2 and the early start on Radio 1. After being named as Zoe Ball's replacement, who had hosted the breakfast slot for six years, Mills revealed how Ball inadvertently helped his career two decades ago.
He recalled a small mistake Ball made by oversleeping into her early morning show, which allowed Mills to fill in as her substitute. Mills described this mishap as the "biggest favour" of his career, as it provided him the opportunity to cover the breakfast show for over 20 years.
"I will never forget how you really took me under your wing and you really looked after me because I didn’t know one person there," Mills told Ball. "Because of that I then covered that breakfast show. Whether it was in for you or for Sara (Cox), or then for Grimmie (Nick Grimshaw) or Chris Moyles, I did it for well over 20 years, all because you overslept."
The revelations highlight the precarious nature of broadcasting careers and the unexpected turns that can define professional paths in the media industry.
