Radio DJ Scott Mills has been dealt another significant blow just days after being sacked by the BBC, as he now faces the loss of his Honorary Doctorate of Arts from Southampton Solent University.
University Panel to Review Honorary Title
Southampton Solent University's Honorary Doctorate Scrutiny Panel is preparing to meet later this month to rule on whether to rescind the prestigious title awarded to Mills in November 2009. A well-placed source has revealed that university bosses are recommending the doctorate be taken away.
"The committee will meet later this month. It will be recommended that the honorary doctorate is rescinded," the source told the Mirror.
Escalating Fallout from BBC Dismissal
This development comes less than 24 hours after BBC boss Tim Davie explained the corporation's decision to sack Mills, stating that "new information quite recently we received made it very clear the decision we had to make." Davie described Mills' dismissal as "a real shock to the organisation."
The scandal has rapidly escalated since Mills' sacking was revealed earlier this week. The Mirror exclusively reported that Mills was questioned in 2018 over historical allegations of serious sexual offences, though the investigation was closed in 2019 after the Crown Prosecution Service deemed there was insufficient evidence to bring charges.
Police Investigation Details Emerge
According to Metropolitan Police records, the investigation into Mills began in December 2016 after another force referred allegations of serious sexual offences against a teenage boy. The alleged incidents reportedly occurred between 1997 and 2000.
The Metropolitan Police has confirmed that the teenage boy at the centre of the investigation was under the age of 16 at the time of the alleged offences. Mills was in his 40s during the investigation period, with the first alleged incident occurring when he was approximately 24 years old and still employed at Heart FM.
BBC's Knowledge of Investigation Revealed
In a significant development, it has emerged that the BBC knew about the police investigation as early as 2017. The corporation released a statement acknowledging: "We can confirm the BBC was made aware in 2017 of the existence of an ongoing police investigation, which was subsequently closed in 2019 with no arrest or charge being made."
The BBC added that it is "doing more work to understand the detail of what was known by the BBC at this time."
Additional Complaints Surface
Further complicating matters, in May 2025, a former presenter contacted the BBC regarding information about alleged "inappropriate communications" involving Mills but reportedly did not receive a response. The BBC has since apologised, admitting it should have followed up on the complaint.
It is important to note that this matter is not suggested to be related to the same alleged victim whose 2018 report led to Mills' police interview.
Widespread Removal of Mills' Recognition
The potential loss of his honorary doctorate represents the latest in a series of recognitions being withdrawn from the former Radio 2 breakfast show host. Shows presented by Mills have already been removed from both BBC iPlayer and Spotify platforms.
Additionally, a plaque honouring Mills has been removed from Fleet Services on the M3 motorway. The plaque was originally unveiled in March 2016 following a campaign on his radio show to get a bridge named after him.
Mills, who was announced as the new host of the BBC Radio 2 breakfast show in November 2024 when Zoe Ball stepped down, had been one of the country's best-loved radio presenters and a familiar face of the BBC's Eurovision coverage alongside co-host Rylan.
The 53-year-old DJ's fall from grace has been swift and comprehensive, with the potential stripping of his academic honour representing perhaps the most symbolic blow to his professional reputation.
