Scott Mills talked about never knowing when his career would end just a month before his BBC sacking ‘over relationship with a male’

by

Just a month before being let go by the BBC due to a relationship with a man, Scott Mills shared his anxieties about the unpredictable nature of his career.

The 53-year-old former Radio 2 DJ, who lost his job with the station on Monday, had recently said he was starting to work on television projects, which were a change from what he was used to.

Speaking at the Attitude 101 event in February, radio personality Mills shared his thoughts on his 25-year career, admitting he’s always aware it could end at any time.

He mentioned his past appearances on shows like The Masked Singer and Strictly Come Dancing, explaining that participating in these unusual activities is a way for him to feel braver about other challenges in life. He admits these aren’t typical choices for him, but he hopes they help him face his fears.

‘I’m just trying to do it all. You never know when all this is going to stop, so why not do it? 

It’s crazy to think about who will take over my responsibilities. Because of that, I really believe you should push yourself and do things even if they scare you.

I’m hearing some difficult news today about a prominent figure being let go from their position. It seems allegations have surfaced regarding a past personal relationship – something from over a decade ago – and that’s led to this decision. It’s a reminder that past actions can have present consequences, and organizations are increasingly taking these matters seriously.

The celebrity confessed he deserved to lose his job for hosting his Radio 1 program while intoxicated – well before the BBC dismissed him today.

The broadcaster struggled with alcohol after the death of an early boyfriend, who died from a drug overdose.

Oh, it was heartbreaking learning about Bob. He was such a pro, but the pressure… it really got to him. He started drinking, just to cope, I guess. I read that he’d sometimes have a whole bottle of liquor before his shift! Can you believe it? And he actually confessed to being drunk while on air during the late nights. It’s just… devastating to think about what he went through, even while giving us all those amazing broadcasts.

He relied a lot on his friend, singer Robbie Williams, who also dealt with alcohol addiction. However, Mills says he only found real stability recently after meeting his husband, Sam Vaughan.

After winning the celebrity edition of the BBC show Race Across The World, the couple got married in 2024.

Mills has dealt with lifelong anxiety, depression, and panic attacks. He shared that he almost lost his job in 2001 after the sudden death of his boyfriend, Mitch, but the BBC supported him through the difficult time.

In a 2012 interview, he described how devastating it was when he learned of the death of a close friend. He was 26 at the time, and they had been inseparable. He recalled finding out after attending the Brit Awards; police were waiting for him after his Radio 1 show to deliver the news, which he said he simply couldn’t take in.

He continued, explaining that as he realized what was happening, things only got more difficult. He began smoking that day and has continued ever since.

Oh my god, he actually told everyone what it was like! Apparently, doing that early morning Radio 1 show was seriously tough on him. He said he was so heartbroken and lonely that he started drinking – can you imagine?! He described his days as just waking up at 2:30 AM, somehow doing the show, then collapsing and going straight back to sleep. It’s just… heartbreaking to hear him talk about it like that. I feel so bad for him!

He continued, explaining that he’d often unwind in the evenings by drinking two bottles of wine or a bottle of liquor while watching television. He described it as a way to cope with things.

He brought his struggles with alcohol to work, even appearing on air while intoxicated. He confessed it could have ended his career, saying, ‘I would have fired myself!’ Luckily, Radio 1 was aware of his personal issues and offered support during a difficult period, which he described as a much-needed wake-up call.

Scott Mills, known for hosting the BBC’s Eurovision coverage, was removed from his broadcasting duties last Tuesday while the BBC investigated a claim. Today, the BBC announced his departure, stating in a message to the Daily Mail: ‘We don’t discuss individual staff matters, but we can confirm Scott Mills is no longer working with the BBC.’

The BBC will not comment further. 

Longtime DJ Gary Davies will take over from Mills starting Wednesday, and Vernon Kay is currently the frontrunner to become the permanent host.

I’ve been listening to Jeremy Mills for years, and it’s hard to believe he started in local radio when he was just 16! He joined the BBC back in ’98, and while he’s spent an incredible 28 years entertaining us on Radio 1 and then Radio 2, it hasn’t always been smooth sailing – there’s been a bit of controversy along the way, but he’s always been a fantastic broadcaster.

However, in 2003, Mills once again allowed his drinking to affect his work. He famously appeared on his early morning show at 4am still noticeably intoxicated, after having partied at the Brit Awards until 2:30am.

The producer had to ask a hotel manager to unlock the star’s room and wake him up because he didn’t show up for work.

‘I absolutely should not have gone on air,’ Mills admitted at the time. 

The producer asked me to stay put, keep playing, and remain silent while she got me a coffee.

As soon as she walked out, I started stumbling over my words. I couldn’t even pronounce the names of artists correctly.

Mills acknowledged he was fortunate to keep his job after the incident, explaining it was a valuable learning experience and he hadn’t repeated the mistake. He then joked that the event had become a legendary story within Radio 1.

Following the incident where he was intoxicated, he was transferred from hosting the Early Breakfast Show to the Drivetime slot after a year.

After eight years, he switched schedules with Greg James, a popular new personality on Radio 1, and ended up with the less prominent 1-4pm timeslot – a move that felt like a demotion.

Mills said losing the popular Drivetime show to Greg in 2012 felt like a really hard blow.

The popular presenter continued working at the station for ten more years, ultimately staying for 24 years before moving to Radio 2 to take over from Steve Wright. In January 2025, he was given the highest-paying job at the station, becoming the new host of the Breakfast Show, replacing Zoe Ball.

Mills declared after winning the top job that it capped the ‘best year of my life’.

Four months before taking over as host of the Breakfast Show, Mills shared a glimpse into his personal life by appearing on the BBC show Celebrity Race Across The World with his husband, Sam.

The show began airing shortly after Mills revealed he’d married his partner of eight years in a lavish wedding in Spain, attended by friends and fellow radio personalities Zoe Ball, Rylan Clark, and Jordan North.

Viewers of Race Across The World saw Mills and Sam discuss the ups and downs of their relationship during the show, including the fact that Sam, a brand manager, originally rejected Mills’s advances.

Before appearing on Channel 4’s The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up To Cancer, he discussed what it was like to be on the show.

Mills immediately regretted agreeing to participate, predicting it would be a terrible experience. He explained that ‘Bake Off’ involves being completely alone in the kitchen, which is a very difficult situation for him personally, as it’s far outside of his comfort zone.

Cooking without the pressure of a ticking clock turns out to be surprisingly nerve-wracking, as the show will reveal.

Okay, so I’ve been in some pretty intense situations performing, but nothing, nothing compared to Strictly. Seriously, it was absolutely terrifying! And then I did The Masked Singer, which was… well, it was something else entirely, but Strictly… that was on another level of scary!

Seriously, why would you even do that? You’re dressed in a costume, performing for Davina McCall and Maya Jama, and you can’t sing! That’s really nerve-wracking.

‘Race Across The World, I had my partner with me. It was good. But that wasn’t really scary.’

Mills said he fell in love quickly, but Sam needed more time. Sam had recently ended a long-term relationship and was still relatively new to exploring his sexuality, having come out at 23. Mills remembers feeling certain they were a good match and just wanting Sam to realize it too.

He explained that when he told me he wasn’t ready to pursue a relationship, I was heartbroken. He realized that being just friends with someone you have feelings for simply doesn’t work, so we stopped talking for six months.

Mills explained to The Times that his mother came to stay with him because he was very upset, crying on the sofa while eating ice cream.

But luckily Sam’s mother intervened and gave him the courage to go for it.

Mills shared that after texting “I miss you,” his mother told him to be direct and either pursue the relationship or end it. They then moved in together just before the first COVID-19 lockdown in 2020.

Mills is paid between £355,000 and £359,999 a year by the BBC.

BBC staff were stunned to learn about the dismissal of Mills. The news, delivered via email from the BBC’s director of music Lorna Clarke on Monday morning, reportedly caused a noticeable reaction, with many people audibly gasping.

Those who worked with him say he was a kind and generous person, and friends are deeply saddened by recent events. A coworker on the radio described him as very well-liked within the station.

‘It is not like the BBC to act so fast’, a household name broadcaster told the Mail.

People at Broadcasting House are reportedly spreading unconfirmed stories about why he was fired.

‘No suspension period or prolonged investigation does not bode well’, another insider said.

BBC News’ Sima Kotecha reported today that the dismissal of [Scott’s name] is the most significant staff change at the network since Huw Edwards stepped down earlier this year.

This is huge news,” she said. “There were audible gasps in the newsroom when everyone found out he’d been fired.

We’re not sure why he lost his job, but it’s definitely bad news. The decision by management suggests there’s a serious underlying issue, especially considering he was a prominent figure in the company.

As previously mentioned, this individual is a very prominent figure at the BBC. Following the situation with Huw Edwards and his departure, we are now investigating another high-earning star – someone who was paid between £355,000 and £359,000 annually. This news is likely to cause concern and raise many questions.

Jeremy Vine admitted he was surprised to hear the news about Scott Mills when he started his BBC Radio 2 show. He said the initial news story really caught him off guard.

I just learned about this 17 minutes ago from the BBC website. All I know is what was in the bulletin – that there were allegations regarding Scott Mills’s personal behavior, and that’s why he was fired. I don’t have any further information.

‘I have no more than that. Alright, on to today’s show.’

Lorna Clarke, the BBC’s Director of Music, informed staff via email that Scott Mills has departed from his role hosting the Breakfast show and has left the BBC. She acknowledged that this news is sudden and likely came as a shock.

Many of us have worked with Scott for years, on various programs across BBC Radio 1, 5 Live, Radio 2, and television. I wanted to let you know about his departure as soon as possible.

This news will likely surprise our listeners, especially those who regularly tune in to the breakfast show. I’ll share more details about the show’s future as soon as I can. I understand you’ll have questions, but I won’t be able to answer them at this time.

Tim Davie will be replaced as the BBC’s director general by Matt Brittin, a Google executive, and this change will happen shortly after the departure of Mills.

https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/html_modules/2025/07_JUL/250714_bbc_top_earners/250714_bbc_top_earners.html

According to Jo Mackie, an employment law expert at Michelmores, the BBC has only stated that its decision to dismiss Mills was due to a “personal conduct” issue, and has not provided further details.

It seems like a serious problem for them to fire him so quickly, especially considering how popular and important he is to the company.

For years, people have criticized the BBC for being slow to act decisively on HR and employment matters. This situation might signal a significant change in how the BBC handles these issues going forward.

The Daily Mail has contacted Mills’s representatives for comment. 

Read More

2026-03-30 22:23