Scott Mills Was BBC’s Highest Earner at £745k Before March Sacking

Scott Mills topped the BBC’s annual pay rankings at up to £749,999 before the corporation terminated him in March 2026, according to figures released on July 14. The 53-year-old Radio 2 breakfast show host saw his earnings nearly double from £355,000 the previous year. His dismissal followed a Metropolitan Police investigation into allegations of historical sexual offences dating to 1997-2000, though prosecutors closed the case in 2019 without charging him.

How Mills climbed to the top of BBC pay

Mills earned between £745,000 and £749,999 in the 12 months to March 2026, according to the BBC’s annual report released July 14. His pay jumped by approximately £400,000, or 108%, from the previous year when he earned £355,000 to £359,999. He unseated Gary Lineker, who had held the top spot for eight consecutive years before leaving the BBC in May 2025. Mills took over the Radio 2 breakfast show from Zoe Ball in January 2025, boosting his earnings significantly.

The police investigation and sudden termination

The BBC fired Mills in March 2026 shortly before details emerged about a Metropolitan Police investigation launched in 2016. The investigation concerned allegations of serious sexual offences involving a boy aged under 16 between 1997 and 2000, when Mills was 23-24 years old. Prosecutors determined there was insufficient evidence to bring charges when the case closed in 2019. Mills said he “fully co-operated” with the investigation.

Who replaces Mills and what happens next

Sara Cox took over the Radio 2 breakfast show after Mills’ departure. Cox earned nearly £325,000 in 2025-26, placing her outside the top 15 earners. Greg James, host of Radio 1’s breakfast show, is now the second-highest earner at up to £450,000. Laura Kuenssberg, the BBC’s highest-paid news presenter, earned up to £410,000.

Broader BBC pay trends

The BBC’s total talent costs rose 1.5% to £14.2 million, the highest level in six years. Meanwhile, the corporation’s TV licence base shrank by 539,000 in the year to March 2026, continuing a five-year decline from 25.3 million licences in 2020-21 to 23.3 million. Only four women appeared in the top 20 earners list, up from three the previous year.

Final Thoughts

Mills’ brief reign as the BBC’s top earner ended abruptly when the corporation severed ties following the police investigation disclosure. His case highlights the tension between talent costs and the BBC’s shrinking licence fee base amid ongoing scrutiny of executive pay.

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