Dermot O'Leary brands BBC Radio 2 a 'family' as he breaks silence on Scott Mills axe: 'Came from nowhere!'

Alex Davies
Tue, 31 Mar 2026 11:29:54 +0000

Dermot O'Leary has spoken publicly about Scott Mills' abrupt departure from BBC Radio 2 for the first time, describing the broadcaster's dismissal as entirely unexpected.

Appearing on This Morning alongside co-presenter Alison Hammond and guests Nick Ferrari and Ashley James, Mr O'Leary began by characterising the station's presenting team as close-knit.

"Speaking as part of the Radio 2 family, and it is a family, it's a lovely place, all the onscreen talent know each other well, we get together relatively often, it's a lovely place to work, very collegiate," he said.

"This was a complete shock to everyone who worked there; it came from nowhere."

The radio presenter's words echo those of fellow Radio 2 alum Jeremy Vine. Opening his lunchtime show on Monday, Mr Vine similarly said: "Obviously, I was taken aback by that opening story to the news.

"I had not heard anything about it until 17 minutes ago, when it was on the BBC website, and I only had the information that was given to you in the bulletin.

"I have nothing more, that it was allegations about Scott Mills’ personal conduct, which have led to him being sacked.

"I have no more than that. All right, on to today’s show."

Meanwhile, Mr Mills' Breakfast Show replacement, Gary Davies, avoided all mention of Mr Mills altogether when he opened Tuesday's program, in a move which some listeners described as "awkward".

Mr O'Leary, who has been part of Radio 2 since 2004, currently hosts the Saturday morning breakfast programme and has presented the Sunday morning slot since 2017.

The BBC confirmed Mills' exit in a brief statement, declining to discuss individual circumstances but acknowledging he was no longer under contract with the corporation.

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Lorna Clarke, the BBC's Director of Music, informed colleagues via email on Monday morning, recognising the announcement would prove difficult for many.

"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," she wrote.

Mr Clarke indicated she would provide updates regarding the breakfast show's future when possible, but stated she could not address further questions at present.

After his dismissal, it emerged that Mr Mills was the subject of a 2016 police inquiry into allegations of serious sexual offences against a teenage boy.

The Mirror first reported that Mr Mills was interviewed by Metropolitan Police officers under caution in July 2018 as part of the police investigation, though the Crown Prosecution Service subsequently determined there was insufficient evidence to pursue charges.

The case was formally closed in May 2019. Despite reports to the contrary, it is not yet known if the BBC's decision to terminate his contract is related to the investigation.

Mr Mills joined BBC Radio 1 in 1998 as an early breakfast presenter, beginning a career that would span more than two decades with the corporation.

Following a stint covering for Sara Cox during her maternity leave in 2005, he secured a permanent early evening slot, which became The Scott Mills Show.

The 53-year-old transferred to Radio 2 in 2022, taking over Steve Wright's afternoon programme before being announced as Zoe Ball's replacement on the breakfast show in November 2024.

He officially assumed the coveted morning slot in January 2025, earning between £355,000 and £359,999 annually according to the latest pay report.