Outgoing director general Tim Davie has told BBC staff it was ‘very clear’ that Scott Mills had to be fired after new information came to light.
Davie, who left the BBC today after nearly six years as director general, made the remarks during an all-staff call.
Former Radio 2 DJ Scott Mills was let go by the BBC on March 27, after the broadcaster learned of allegations relating to the 53-year-old’s ‘personal conduct’.
It has since emerged that the Metropolitan Police launched an investigation into Mills in December 2016 over allegations of serious sexual offences against a teenage boy who was under the age of 16.
According to BBC News, during today’s call, Davie explained that the Corporation had tried to act fairly when deciding what to do about Mills.
‘It was new information quite recently that we received that made it very clear about the decision we had to make,’ Davie reportedly said.
Following questions from BBC Breakfast’s Sally Nugent about when they had learned about the allegations, Davie pointed staff to a previous statement.
That statement claimed that the BBC was made aware of the allegation in 2017, but that new information had been revealed which led to Mills’ sacking.
‘I think people need to look at the statement; we made [it] as clear as we can, ‘he said.
‘We obviously have to be sensitive when you’ve got personal information, and we work carefully through it, but the statement is really clear.’
Davie was then asked if he believed that staff culture at the BBC had changed since he took over as Director General, to which he said that while it will never be ‘fully fixed’, it was changing.
“I think if you come in and behave in a way that some of this industry saw 20 years ago, it just would not be acceptable; you want to create an environment where it’s just ludicrous to do that,’ he said.
Davie will be replaced by Rhodri Talfan Davies as BBC Boss for the next six weeks, before former Google executive Matt Brittin takes over full-time.
Meanwhile, Mills has released his own statement through his lawyers, which acknowledges the complaints made against him.
‘The recent announcement that I am no longer contracted to the BBC has led to the publication of rumour and speculation,’ it began.
‘In response to this, the Metropolitan Police has made a statement, which I confirm relates to me.
‘An allegation was made against me in 2016 of a historic sexual offence which was the subject of a police investigation in which I fully cooperated and responded to in 2018.’
Mills then states that a file of evidence was submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service, which ‘determined that the evidential threshold had not been met to bring charges.’
‘I wish to thank from the bottom of my heart all those who have reached out to me with kindness, my former colleagues.’
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