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The BBC decided to sack Scott Mills over a 2016 police investigation into "serious sexual offences against a teenage boy". Mills was questioned under caution, but police decided to drop the case because of a lack of evidence, according to The Mirror.The sacking is understood to relate to the allegations.

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said tonight: "In December 2016, the Met began an investigation following a referral from another police force. The investigation related to allegations of serious sexual offences against a teenage boy. These were reported to have taken place between 1997 and 2000.

"As part of these enquiries, a man who was in his 40s at the time of the interview was questioned by police under caution in July 2018. A full file of evidence was submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service, which determined the evidential threshold had not been met to bring charges. Following this advice, the investigation was closed in May 2019."

The allegations related to when Mills joined BBC Radio 1, and it's not known if the BBC was informed of the investigation at the time.

A source told The Mirror the BBC acted "quickly and decisively" last week following a complaint. The corporation is understood to have updated the accuser following the presenters' axing and is in contact with him. The news of the 53-year-old's sacking broke this morning, before BBC staff were informed via email.

According to The Mirror's report, Mills was taken off air last Wednesday following the complaint, while the BBC "urgently assessed the information", and his contract was terminated over the weekend.

The BBC said in a statement: "While we do not comment on matters relating to individuals, we can confirm Scott Mills is no longer contracted to work with the BBC."

Mills, who has been on BBC radio and TV for more than 25 years, is its 11th-highest-paid star, earning between £355,000 and £359,999 annually, according to the 2024-2025 pay report.

BBC's Director of Music, Lorna Clarke, told staff in an email: "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. Not least as so many of us have worked with Scott over a great many years, across a broad range of our programmes on R1, 5Live, R2 and TV. I felt it was important to share this news with you at the earliest opportunity."

It's understood the BBC are now in crisis meetings about Mills' replacement, with a source adding: "It's like a bomb has been dropped in the middle of the corporation... everything has been thrown up into the air."

Express.co.uk has contacted the BBC for further comment.