Scott Mills is facing the revocation of his Honorary Doctorate of Arts from Southampton Solent University. The radio personality was granted this prestigious recognition in November 2009, but now, the university’s Honorary Doctorate Scrutiny Panel is convening to decide on the matter, with administrators proposing the withdrawal of the esteemed title.
According to a reliable source cited by the Mirror, the committee is scheduled to convene later this month to recommend rescinding the honorary doctorate. This development follows the removal of shows hosted by Mills on both BBC iPlayer and Spotify, as well as the removal of a commemorative plaque dedicated to him at Fleet Services on the M3 motorway in March 2016.
The latest setback for Mills, 53, comes shortly after BBC chief Tim Davie disclosed that new information prompted the decision to dismiss the former Radio 2 breakfast host. Davie emphasized that the revelation leading to Mills’ termination was recent and necessitated immediate action, acknowledging the surprising nature of the outcome within the organization.
The Mirror had previously reported on Mills’ dismissal and revealed that he had been questioned in 2018 regarding past allegations of serious sexual offenses, although the investigation concluded in 2019 due to insufficient evidence for prosecution. The Metropolitan Police initiated an investigation into Mills in December 2016 following referrals regarding alleged sexual offenses against a teenage boy during the late 1990s and early 2000s.
During the period under investigation, Mills was in his forties, and the incidents allegedly occurred when he was around 24 years old while working at Heart FM before later joining BBC Radio One. The Met Police confirmed that the victim involved in the investigation was under 16 years old at the time of the purported offenses.
In a separate incident in May 2025, a former presenter raised concerns about inappropriate communications involving Mills, but the BBC did not respond adequately, admitting to a failure in addressing the complaint promptly. The BBC clarified that these matters were distinct from the 2018 investigation and subsequent police interview triggered by a different report.
The scandal surrounding Mills has intensified with revelations that the BBC was aware of the police investigation as early as 2017. The corporation acknowledged being informed about the ongoing police inquiry in 2017, which concluded in 2019 without any arrests or charges. Further investigations are underway to ascertain the extent of the BBC’s knowledge regarding the situation at that time.
