Scott Mills Faces Potential Loss of Honorary Doctorate
Scott Mills, a well-known radio presenter, is facing a potential setback as he could lose his Honorary Doctorate of Arts from Southampton Solent University. The 53-year-old DJ was recently dismissed from the BBC, just six days after his final Radio 2 breakfast show. This decision has sparked significant attention and concern.
The Daily Mirror reported that the firing of Mills might be linked to a 2016 police investigation into ‘serious sexual offences’ against a teenage boy between 1997 and 2000. However, this case was dropped around seven years ago due to insufficient evidence. Now, it has come to light that Scott could also lose his prestigious title, which he was awarded in November 2009.
The academic institution’s Honorary Doctorate Scrutiny Panel is reportedly preparing to meet to decide on the matter, with officials suggesting that the title should be rescinded. A source shared with the Mirror: ‘The committee will meet later this month. It will be recommended that the honorary doctorate is rescinded.’ The Daily Mail has reached out to Scott Mills’ representatives for further comment.
At the time of receiving the honor, Scott expressed his feelings about the recognition. He stated, ‘It felt amazing after not really doing any education before.’ He added, ‘I came out of school and just learned from the people I worked with and thankfully the people I worked with were good and took the time to teach me but without that, if I was working at a worse radio station I don’t think I would be doing this now.’
Following his dismissal, Scott’s shows on iPlayer have been removed, as well as a plaque at Fleet services on the M3. Additionally, he has been replaced on Race Across The World’s spin-off show by TV presenter and DJ Tyler West, 30. It was previously announced that he and series four’s Alfie Watts would co-host a podcast titled Race Across the World: The Detour.
Scott and his now-husband Sam won the second celebrity series of Race Across the World in 2024. The DJ, who earns between £355,000 and £359,999 annually from the BBC, took over the Radio 2 breakfast show from Zoe Ball in 2025.
A senior broadcaster at the BBC expressed ‘total shock’ at the corporation following Mills’s sacking. Lorna Clarke, Director of Music, informed BBC 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. 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.’
Elsewhere, Scott’s Eurovision 2026 replacement has been revealed. The BBC has removed him from TV and radio gigs following allegations of ‘serious sexual offences’ against a teenage boy. The presenter will no longer be appearing at the Eurovision Song Contest, and instead will be replaced by fellow BBC Radio 2 presenter Sara Cox, according to The Sun. The BBC confirmed that all future work planned with the presenter, including coverage of the contest in May, has been canceled.
He has been one of the commentators during Eurovision’s semi-finals, which will air on BBC One in the week leading up to the final, since 2011. Scott has most recently been joined by Rylan Clark on the shows, as well as talking listeners through the live Eurovision final on BBC Radio 2. However, the publication revealed that Sara, 51, will instead take on the role, after commentating on the semi-finals during a radio show last year, alongside former show commentator Rylan.
