Under different circumstances, a photograph of former Radio 2 breakfast host Scott Mills holding hands with his husband would have gone unnoticed. However, this black-and-white image captured during Mills’ wedding to Sam Vaughan in June 2024, carries more than just sentimental value. The couple is seen joyfully walking through a cascade of rose petals shortly after exchanging vows in a glamorous ceremony in Barcelona.
While the photo marks a significant personal milestone for the couple, it also represents their first public appearance since Mills was abruptly dismissed by the BBC in March. His departure came after it was revealed that historical allegations of sexual misconduct involving a teenager had surfaced against him.
Posted by Sam this week, he captioned the image ‘2 years’ alongside a heart emoji to mark their second anniversary.
The implications of the post extend beyond the personal sphere, as a glance through the comments section reveals. The reaction from notable figures at the BBC has caught many off guard, leaving network executives uncertain about how to navigate the situation.
Among those offering their congratulations were key personalities from BBC radio, known colloquially as the Big Four. Zoe Ball, Rylan Clark, Jeremy Vine, and Sara Cox—who will soon take over Mills’ breakfast show slot—all expressed their support.
Zoe Ball, the show’s former host before Mills, shared her affection with a heartfelt “love you” accompanied by four red-heart emojis. Rylan Clark responded with eight heart emojis of his own. Jeremy Vine, who holds the midday slot, sent “love to you both,” while Sara Cox also added four red-heart emojis, underscoring the warmth and camaraderie shared among the broadcasters.
Scott Mills was sensationally sacked by the BBC in March after bosses discovered that historic sexual abuse allegations against him involved a teenager
Sam Vaughan posted a photo of himself hand in hand with his husband Scott Mills to mark their second anniversary this week
Those wishing the couple a happy anniversary included big figures in BBC radio such as Zoe Ball, Rylan Clark, Jeremy Vine and Sara Cox
Zoe, who preceded Scott in the job, wrote ‘love you’ followed by four red-heart emojis. Rylan placed eight hearts, while Jeremy, who hosts the 12pm to 2pm slot, said: ‘Sending love to you both.’ Sara also posted four red-heart emojis.
Others to share the love included Rob Rinder, influencer Kate Lawler, actress Natalie Cassidy, Radio 1 presenter Vick Hope and her DJ husband Calvin Harris. Even legendary Radio 2 DJ ‘Whispering’ Bob Harris left a warm message.
For so many BBC figures of high standing to leave such public affirmations of support is, say insiders, the equivalent of questioning the decision to sack Scott – if not disagreeing with it outright.
‘There is already a feeling of mutiny,’ says a Radio 2 source. ‘He has so many friends in front of the microphone and behind it at the BBC and they are not frightened to support him whatsoever.’
Little wonder that all this is described as a ‘massive headache’ for the corporation. ‘It’s so embarrassing for the BBC. We’ve all known behind the scenes that some of the biggest stars are bewildered at the sacking – but now it’s public.
‘[His supporters] knew their comments on Sam’s post were going to be picked up and make headlines,’ my source says. ‘That shows just how much the likes of Sara, Rylan and Jeremy are sticking by their friend and don’t care what their employers think.’
I’m told that this growing support is causing great discomfort among executives at Radio 2 – especially because many of the bosses themselves have also now taken the view that Scott’s super-swift sacking was a mistake.
‘It’s total humiliation for management,’ my source says. ‘All his supporters have given the strongest indicator yet that the BBC made the wrong judgment call to get rid of Scott, and they may rue the day they did.
‘It hasn’t gone as they would have expected. There couldn’t be less support for his sacking. You literally cannot find anyone within Radio 2 or the BBC who agrees with it. It’s a disaster.’
Scott’s celebrity cheerleaders came to the fore just as he decided to take legal action against his employer of 28 years, insisting he was unfairly dismissed.
The BBC fired him after it discovered he had been questioned in 2018 over alleged events that took place a decade earlier with an individual then aged under 16.
Scott’s legal team has been corresponding with the BBC for weeks – and sources suggest the battle ‘might just be going Scott’s way’
Friends of Scott’s say he is ‘desperate to have his say’, but lawyers have told him to wait until the legal action is over
In 2019, the Crown Prosecution Service dropped the case against him due to lack of evidence. But the BBC fired him, meaning he lost his show and his role hosting the Eurovision semi-finals.
While the BBC was aware of the allegations when they were made, the current management is said not to have known the alleged victim’s age until March.
This was the catalyst for the decision to sack him. Scott’s legal team at the London firm Level Law has been corresponding with the BBC for weeks. Sources suggest the battle ‘might just be going Scott’s way’.
He was reportedly sacked days after a man approached BBC bosses after watching Channel 5’s drama Power: The Downfall Of Huw Edwards and informed them that the youngster at the centre of the allegations against Scott was under 16.
Former director general Tim Davie told staff at the time that new information had come to light that made the broadcaster’s course of action ‘very clear’.
The BBC said in a statement that it ‘obtained new information relating to Scott and we spoke directly with him. As a result, the BBC acted decisively in line with our culture and values and terminated his contracts’.
This enraged Scott’s backers. ‘Literally everyone connected to Scott totally disagrees with this,’ said a BBC source at the time.
BBC insiders say Davie acted to ‘sweep the place up’ before his successor Matt Brittin took over.
But as one source points out, it had the opposite effect, landing Brittin with a messy legal battle that Scott is determined to win.
Others point out that Davie did not apply the same rules to others at the BBC. Most notoriously, Huw Edwards remained employed for a significant period despite a young man’s family claiming he had been groomed by the ex-newsreader.
Then there was Gregg Wallace, who prompted 85 complaints of misconduct while hosting MasterChef – with 45 of them upheld.
And former Radio Wales DJ Wynne Evans got a role on Strictly in 2024 even though he had been investigated over claims of misconduct during his time working in Cardiff.
‘Scott feels he is a scapegoat here,’ says a friend of his. ‘He made no secret of the police investigation, he was honest and open and then he was cleared.
‘He is collateral damage from people like Huw Edwards, real wrong ’uns, who came before him. You can’t put Scott anywhere near the same category, but the bosses did. Scott’s team will simply not tolerate that.’
Indeed, Scott’s life has changed dramatically since he was dismissed on March 27, the day before his 53rd birthday.
His days now consist of walking his cavapoo, Teddy, with Sam near their home in Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire. Friends are deeply worried about him.
‘Scott is devastated and angry,’ says a source. ‘It has destroyed his life. He does not think it’s fair or right and has no qualms about telling the truth. BBC bosses know how loved Scott was and still is. Whatever he says will have a damning effect on the Beeb, but it’s all their own doing.’
I’m told Scott is now trying to rebuild his career. Central to this, though, is the process of clearing his name. The day he does, predict BBC insiders, will be an embarrassing one for executives.
‘And you know who will be first to congratulate Scott,’ adds my source. Zoe, Rylan, Sara and Jeremy. And that’s just for starters.
