Rylan Clark has been left 'devastated' following the abrupt termination of his close friend and BBC colleague Scott Mills, according to insider sources. The radio presenter was sacked by the BBC last week after it emerged that the Metropolitan Police had investigated Mills in 2016 over allegations of serious sexual offences involving a teenage boy under 16 between 1997 and 2000.
Police Investigation and BBC Response
The police investigation was officially closed in 2019 after prosecutors determined there was insufficient evidence to bring charges. However, the BBC confirmed it had known about the investigation since 2017 and stated it 'acted decisively' after receiving 'new information' in the weeks leading up to Mills' dismissal on March 27, 2026.
In his first public statement since the news broke, released through his lawyers, Mills acknowledged the police investigation and confirmed he had 'co-operated fully' with authorities. The former Radio 2 breakfast host emphasized that the Crown Prosecution Service had determined the evidential threshold had not been met to bring charges.
Close Friendship and Professional Collaboration
Rylan Clark and Scott Mills have maintained a close personal and professional relationship for several years. The two presenters have collaborated on numerous BBC projects, including Eurovision coverage and various radio programmes. Clark attended Mills' wedding to husband Sam Vaughan in Barcelona 18 months ago, which he described as the 'best wedding ever.'
A source close to the situation told the Daily Mail that Rylan has been particularly affected by the allegations against his friend. 'Rylan and Scott are so close,' the source revealed. 'They have done a lot of work together, but see a lot of each other socially, too. They always had each other's backs. This will be rough for Rylan.'
BBC's Cultural Review and Additional Allegations
The BBC has acknowledged that it failed to follow up on a separate allegation of 'inappropriate communications' by Mills that was raised last year. The corporation issued an apology for this oversight and emphasized its commitment to improving culture, processes, and standards following an independent review conducted last year.
A BBC spokesperson stated: 'Scott Mills had a long career across the BBC, he was hugely popular and we know the news this week has come as a shock and surprise to many. We hope people understand that there is a limit to what we can say because we have to be mindful of the rights of those involved.'
Mills' Public Statement and Future Implications
In his statement, Mills expressed gratitude to those who have supported him, saying: 'I wish to thank from the bottom of my heart all those who have reached out to me with kindness, my former colleagues, and my beloved listeners, who I greatly miss.' He added that since the investigation related to an allegation dating back nearly 30 years and was closed seven years ago, he hopes the public and media will respect his wish not to make further public comments on the matter.
The BBC has confirmed it is conducting additional work to understand what was known by the corporation during the initial investigation period. The termination of Mills' contract represents a significant development in the BBC's ongoing efforts to address behavioral standards and accountability within the organization.
