Scott Mills loses lucrative £190,000 panto role after BBC sacking

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Scott Mills will no longer work in panto that earned him a staggering £190,000 a year after being fired from the BBC.

The former BBC Radio 2 DJ was sacked last month after it emerged he was investigated over alleged serious sexual offences against a boy under 16 between 1997 and 2000.

The 53-year-old allegedly remained in contact with the boy for years until around 2006.

The investigation was dropped due to lack of evidence.

Now, it has been revealed he will no longer appear in pantomime this winter, despite becoming a regular over the past few years, The Sun reported.

Mills is thought to have banked £600,000 in the past three years appearing as Mayor Mills in Jack And The Beanstalk shows in Leicester, Swansea and High Wycombe thanks to his £190,000 fee, according to reports.

Imagine Theatre, which produces the shows, said it has no plans to work with Mills for the 2026 to 2027 season.

The decision was reportedly taken before the presenter was sacked by the BBC.

“There were no plans to work with him this year.

This decision was taken prior to this news,” an Imagine Theatre spokesperson said.

Sources said rival production companies “don’t want to go near him” after his exit from the BBC.

“The panto world is really small, and everyone knows everyone.

As soon as the news broke about Scott, it was all anyone was talking about, especially given he’s been so popular since his debut in 2023,” an insider told The Sun.

“Scott is really close with the team at Imagine and was already in talks about taking a break, despite openly telling people about how much he loves the silliness of pantomime.

“Normally he would have been courted by other production companies but in light of developments, no one wants to go near him.”
The Standard has contacted Mills’ representative for comment.

Mills was taken off the radio by the BBC last month before his firing over allegations related to his "personal conduct".

The BBC confirmed it knew in 2017 about the police investigation into one of its biggest stars, but said it “acted decisively” to sack him after receiving “new information” in recent weeks.

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It is not clear whether bosses knew of the alleged victim ’s age in 2017, but current managers took the decision to sack Mills after learning they had been under 16, BBC News reported.

The Metropolitan Police launched an investigation into Mills in 2016.

He was questioned in 2018 and the case was closed in 2019 after prosecutors decided there was insufficient evidence to bring charges.

Since his firing, he has lost a series of job opportunities including being replaced as the host of the Race Across The World podcast and removed from episodes of Top Of The Pops .

He was also pulled from supporting Boyzone’s concerts this summer and a Great British Bake Off celebrity episode featuring him has been removed.

Mills has said of his firing: “Since the investigation related to an allegation that dates back nearly 30 years and the police investigation was closed 7 years ago, I hope that the public and the media will understand and respect my wish not to make any further public comment on this matter.

“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.”