Tim Davie, the departing director general of the BBC, has declared that the staff culture within the publicly-funded broadcaster will never be 'fully fixed'. This stark admission came during an all-staff call held yesterday, as Davie prepared to leave his role after nearly six years.
Scott Mills Sacking and 'New Information'
During the call, Davie explained that it became 'very clear' that Radio 2 presenter Scott Mills had to be dismissed after the corporation received 'new information' regarding a sexual offence investigation. This information revealed that the investigation involved a person under the age of 16.
Mills, the 53-year-old breakfast show host, was investigated and cleared over allegations of historic 'serious sexual offences' against a boy between 1997 and 2000. The BBC acknowledged it was aware of the police probe into Mills in 2017 but only took action last week after learning the alleged victim was under 16.
Davie's Candid Assessment of BBC Culture
Mr Davie reportedly stated: 'I think if you come in and behave in a way that some of this industry saw 20 years ago, it just would not be acceptable, you want to create an environment where it's just ludicrous to do that.'
He added that there were senior BBC employees who 'have had a lot of power' which has not been 'called out' if they 'misuse' it. However, Davie asserted that the corporation has now 'reached a point' where they are 'not going to tolerate it'.
Despite this, he conceded that the BBC's staff culture '[will] never be fully, fully fixed, but I think it's changing, I really do'.
History of Scandals at the BBC
The broadcaster has faced repeated scandals involving high-profile figures in recent years:
- Convicted paedophile Huw Edwards pleaded guilty to three charges of making indecent images in July 2024, receiving a suspended six-month prison sentence in September that year.
- TV chef Gregg Wallace was sacked from a BBC show last July after more than 40 misconduct allegations were upheld against him.
- Serial paedophile Jimmy Saville used his position at the BBC to abuse hundreds of young boys and girls across decades, with these crimes only coming to light after his death.
Mills' Response and Investigation Details
Mills, who would have been 24 at the time of the allegations in the late 1990s, was interviewed under caution in 2018. The case was rejected by the Crown Prosecution Service in 2019 due to insufficient evidence.
In a statement issued via his lawyers to the Daily Mail, Mills admitted he was the subject of the investigation but did not deny the allegations. He stated he 'fully cooperated and responded' during the police probe and thanked fans and former BBC colleagues.
BBC management is currently reviewing emails and HR records from the period before speaking to staff about what they knew regarding the Metropolitan Police investigation and whether they were aware the complainant was a child.
Davie's Tenure and Controversies
Mr Davie's final day at the BBC was yesterday, concluding a tenure marked by numerous controversies:
- The Bobby Vylan incident at Glastonbury where chants of 'death to the IDF' occurred.
- A $10 billion lawsuit from Donald Trump over the editing of a Panorama documentary titled 'Trump: A Second Chance?', which allegedly spliced together parts of a speech to give the impression Trump encouraged followers to storm the Capitol on January 6, 2021.
The lawsuit, filed in the Southern District of Florida, included counts of defamation and violation of Florida trade practices law. Trump's attorneys claimed the BBC published a 'false, defamatory, deceptive, disparaging, inflammatory, and malicious depiction' that was fabricated.
Leadership Transition at the BBC
Davie is being replaced by interim director-general Rhodri Talfan Davies for the next six weeks. Former Google executive Matt Brittin will take over permanently on May 18.
Davie succeeded Lord Tony Hall as director-general in September 2020, during a volatile period for the broadcaster marked by disputes over the licence fee, increasing competition from streaming platforms, and gender pay issues.
Reflecting on Mills' dismissal, Davie said it 'was a real shock to the organisation', adding: 'When something happens where I think there's a lot of grief, there's a lot of shock, I think all I would say is we're trying to act as the leadership with kindness.'
