BBC salary disclosures expose governance gap in Mills sacking
The BBC’s annual salary report reveals Scott Mills was the corporation’s highest-paid star before his dismissal over historical misconduct allegations, exposing a gap in the broadcaster's internal safeguarding processes.
Scott Mills earned approximately £745,000 in his final year at the BBC, making him the publicly funded broadcaster's highest-paid star before his sudden dismissal in March.
Mills was removed from his position hosting the BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show over concerns regarding his "personal conduct." The BBC has since connected this dismissal to a 2016 police investigation involving allegations of sexual offences against a teenage boy.
The disclosure of his top-earner status coincides with the BBC's admission of a significant governance failure. The corporation acknowledged that concerns about "inappropriate communications" involving Mills were raised last year, but it apologised that no internal investigation was pursued at the time.
Mills has broken his silence to confirm the historical allegation, stating he "fully co-operated and responded to" the police investigation. He emphasized that the "evidential threshold had not been met to bring charges" and urged the public to "respect my wish not to make any further public comment on this matter."
The financial details underscore the premium the BBC places on its flagship morning radio slots, even as it faces broader pressure to manage public funds efficiently. Mills’ predecessor, Zoe Ball, earned £950,000 in her final full year hosting the Radio 2 breakfast programme. Sara Cox has since taken over the role.
Beyond Radio 2, the annual report reveals a strategic shift in how the BBC compensates its most prominent television talent. Gary Lineker, who departed last summer after sharing an anti-Semitic illustration on Instagram for which he later apologised, previously commanded an annual salary of £1.3 million.
Rather than replacing Lineker with a single high-priced host, the BBC split his Match Of The Day duties among three presenters. Mark Chapman was paid around £335,000, Gabby Logan made £290,000, and Kelly Cates earned £215,000, demonstrating a clear move away from concentrated talent costs.
The remainder of the BBC's highest-paid roster features a mix of news and entertainment figures. BBC Radio 1 breakfast presenter Greg James earned £440,000, followed by Stephen Nolan at £425,000. Laura Kuenssberg and Vernon Kay each received £405,000, while Alan Shearer rounded out the top tier at £390,000.
