Jeremy Vine was involved in a fiery clash with Ann Widdecombe over the sacking of his BBC colleague Scott Mills on Tuesday, after she accused the channel’s bosses of ‘believing he’s guilty’ over a historic police probe into alleged sexual offences.
The Radio 2 DJ, 53, was axed on Monday after claims he had been questioned in 2018 by Scotland Yard over alleged serious sexual offences against a boy under the age of 16.
The investigation was dropped without charge in 2019 after the Crown Prosecution Service said there was not sufficient evidence.
The BBC has refused to answer if it was aware of the alleged probe into Scott, 53, at the time, though a source close to the star told the Daily Mail they are ‘pretty certain’ he did not tell his employers.
Speaking on his Channel 5 show on Tuesday, Jeremy accused of Reform spokesperson Ann of ‘getting it wrong’ after she insisted Scott’s sacking meant there is a ‘clear implication’ he was guilty of some form of offence.
Jeremy hit back, declaring she’d ‘got it wrong,’ and hinted at ‘another reason’ that could have contributed to the radio star’s axe, echoing claims overnight that he was fired after ‘new information’ was brought to their attention.
Jeremy Vine was involved in a fiery clash with Ann Widdecombe over the sacking of his BBC colleague Scott Mills on Tuesday
The Radio 2 DJ was axed on Monday after claims he had been questioned in 2018 by Scotland Yard over alleged serious sexual offences against a boy under the age of 16
Sources claimed on Tuesday that bosses had ‘no choice’ but to fire Scott, after being given fresh information about his alleged conduct.
While the new information is understood to involve the same person as the original complaint, it is different to the claims made during the Met Police’s investigations. After review, the BBC decided ‘Mills had to go’, according to the Daily Mirror.
Speaking about Scott’s sacking, Ann said: ‘Well you know what I’m going to say before I even open my mouth, which is innocent until proven guilty, but I can’t believe this.
‘When I first heard allegations about his personal conduct, I assumed that was, you know, something very recent, or something that was even ongoing.
‘Instead of which, it transpires that it goes back to 1997, it was investigated in 2016, and there wasn’t sufficient evidence to proceed.
‘Now, that makes the man innocent. And why now in 2026, he should be sacked, which is like the BBC proclaiming guilt, I do not know.’
Jeremy stated: ‘Well there are some things that you can be fired for that are not illegal, so we start with that as a starting point and an example,’ before Ann cut in: ”You’re fired for the fact that you’ve been investigated.”
‘I’m just saying an example would be, let’s say, bullying behaviour in the office. It’s not necessary for you to break the law to lose your job,’ Jeremy said.
Ann said: ‘The BBC are now saying, ”oh because this happened, we are sacking this person.”
‘Therefore, as I say the clear implication is that the BBC believes that he was guilty, even if he wasn’t guilty at a criminal level, that he was guilty, of an offence.’
Jeremy cut in with ‘it’s not that,’ saying: ‘He may not have been guilty of a crime, but he may have done enough for the BBC to sack him. And, I’ll give you an example of that, would be if the BBC…’
As Ann once again attempted to cut him off with ’30 years ago,’ Jeremy insisted the matter was a ‘separate thing,’ before the politician insisted: ‘No, it is not a separate thing.’
Jeremy accused of Reform spokesperson Ann of ‘getting it wrong’ after she insisted Scott’s sacking meant there is a ‘clear implication’ he was guilty of some form of offence
Jeremy then ended the chat by saying: ‘Okay, if it’s been 30 years, maybe it’s too long. Maybe it times out.’
Podcast presenter Marvyn Harrison stated that ‘Ann seemed to be confusing criminal law with employment law,’ and said bosses would have had to act ‘incredibly swiftly’ with any allegations of wrongdoing.’
The politician then hit back: ‘What I am saying is that this is the reason being given was a criminal investigation, which went nowhere, and which took place about 10 years ago about something that had taken place 30 years ago.
‘Now the BBC are now saying ”because this happened we are sacking this person” therefore as I say the clear implication is that the BBC believes that he was guilty of it even if he wasn’t guilty at a criminal level.’
Jeremy tried to cut off Ann by saying ‘you’ve got it wrong,’ but she continued: ‘Even if he wasn’t guilty at a criminal level, that he was guilty of an offence.’
The radio star said: ‘It’s that he may not have been guilty of a crime, but he may have done enough for the BBC to sack him, and I’ll give you an example of that…’
As Ann reiterated the alleged offences in question occurred nearly ’30 years ago,’ Jeremy added: ‘Maybe it times out, all I’m saying is if you’ve got a situation where in a workplace somebody comes in whose very young and somebody already working there whose older has a sexual relationship with them, that is probably sackable. That is probably sackable.’
Scott was sacked after 27 years with the BBC – and it has since been revealed he was investigated then cleared over allegations of ‘serious sexual offences’ against a boy under the age of 16 between 1997 and 2000.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed they questioned Mills over the accusations when reported to them in 2016, but the Crown Prosecution Service found there was not enough evidence and closed the case in 2019.
The BBC has declined to say why he was dismissed other than that it was related to his ‘personal conduct’.
But the corporation is facing fresh questions as to why he was kept on air despite reportedly knowing he had been interviewed under caution between 2018 and 2019.
Now new information is said to have been passed to the BBC relating to the same alleged victim but different to previous claims, the Mirror reported.
BBC chiefs are said to have looked into the fresh details over recent days ‘and decided he had to go’, it was said.
Meanwhile, it was suggested Mills told the BBC in 2018 he had been questioned by police – with the Sun quoting a source as saying: ‘The BBC knew Scott had been questioned by police, he told them. Scott said he denied the allegations that had been made against him.’
TV presenter Piers Morgan posted on X: ‘I don’t understand. He was investigated by police 10yrs ago over alleged offences 25+ years ago, but no action was taken and case was closed.
‘Now he gets instantly fired over same thing? The BBC needs to explain why, surely?’
The Daily Mail revealed this week how the complaint sparking Mills’ axeing was thought to have come from someone inspired to speak out again this year following the recent Channel 5 docudrama about disgraced ex-BBC newsreader Huw Edwards.
One BBC executive in London told the Daily Mail there was a real belief among bosses at the corporation that the timing was ‘not a coincidence’.
Channel 5 documentary Power: The Downfall of Huw Edwards was broadcast released last week and detailed the downfall of the former BBC news anchor.
A source said: ‘The Huw Edwards drama showed that there could be a reckoning.’
Former BBC News main presenter Edwards received a six-month suspended sentence after admitting three charges of making indecent images of children.
Edwards, who criticised the programme in an angry statement to the Mail last month, was portrayed in the Channel 5 drama by Martin Clunes.
He has ‘liked’ a LinkedIn post sympathising with the ‘stressful’ situation Mills faces.
Mills is reportedly not taking calls from his worried friends following his dismissal.
A source was quoted by the Mirror as saying he had ‘gone to ground’ since the decision was made and friends were ‘struggling to contact him’, adding: ‘The show was his life and he is facing oblivion.’
It has also been suggested his close friends and acquaintances were ‘left totally blindsided by events of the last few days’ and that they knew nothing about his sacking until Monday nor the police investigation back in 2016.
Jeremy Vine has called the sacking of his BBC Radio 2 colleague Mills ‘unfair’ as he insisted on his own Tuesday show: ‘There’s been no crime.’
Vine, who hosts a daily Radio 2 show dissecting the day’s headlines, shared his upset over Mills’ exit – while suggesting bosses had got rid of him due to regrets over failing to handle the behaviour of Huw Edwards.
The presenter said: ‘Huw Edwards couldn’t be sacked because he was in a fragile mental state, and everything I have read about Scott’s history today goes back to his own anxiety and depression but there doesn’t seem to be the same break cut for him’.
Vine was among the BBC correspondents expressing their shock following Monday’s announcement by the BBC of Mills’ dismissal.
He began his Tuesday show by saying to listeners: ‘Scott Mills’ sacking has left a lot of people very confused. What do you make of it? I’d love to know.
‘We heard the news just before 12 yesterday here at Radio 2 – it came as a complete shock to those of us who work at the station, the presenter of our breakfast show Scott Mills had been sacked over allegations, we’re told, related to his personal conduct.’
Later in the programme, Vine added: ‘It’s a very painful episode for anyone who knows Scott – he’s a very popular guy in the building.’
Vine also spoke to the BBC’s media and culture editor Katie Razzell, who said she had put ‘a series of questions’ to bosses about Mills’ sacking – in particular whether they were aware of any previous police investigation into him.
Police have said a man, in his 40s at the time of the 2016 interview, was investigated that year over allegations of serious sexual offences between 1997 and 2000.
He was questioned by police under caution in July 2018.
Mills was not charged with a criminal offence and the case was closed due to lack of evidence.
The Metropolitan Police does not identify people who are subject to an investigation before any charges are brought.
A spokesperson said: ‘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 inquiries, 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, who determined the evidential threshold had not been met to bring charges. Following this advice, the investigation was closed in May 2019.’
Scotland Yard confirmed the boy was under 16.
In an email sent to staff on Monday, BBC director of music Lorna Clarke wrote: ‘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.
“Of course, it will also come as a shock to our audience and loyal breakfast show listeners too. I will update everyone with more information on plans for the show when I’m able to.
‘While I appreciate many of you will have questions, I hope you can understand that I am not going to be saying anything further now.”
The BBC said it would not comment beyond an earlier statement saying: ‘While we do not comment on matters relating to individuals, we can confirm Scott Mills is no longer contracted to work with the BBC.”
The corporation has also issued an apology for not following up after a separate allegation of ‘inappropriate communications’ by Mills was raised by a journalist last year.
The BBC said: ‘We received a press query in 2025 which included limited information. This should have been followed up and we should have asked further questions. We apologise for this and will look into why this did not happen.
‘More broadly, we would always urge anyone who has concerns or information to raise it with us.’
Mills has not commented since his sacking.
He joined BBC Radio 1 in 1998 from Heart 106.2, where he started in 1995 after working in local radio in Hampshire, Bristol and Manchester.
He rose through the ranks from the early breakfast show in 1998 to the afternoon slot vacated by Sara Cox in 2004.
Renamed The Scott Mills Show, it ran from 2004 until 2022, when Mills jumped ship to Radio 2, where he replaced Steve Wright on his afternoon slot.
He landed the coveted Radio 2 Breakfast Show role in January last year when he took over from Zoe Ball.
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