Scott Mills Friends Concerned Over Unrecognizable Transformation

Underneath a pair of black sunglasses and a large New York Yankees baseball cap, Scott Mills appears gaunt and unshaven.

By his side, husband Sam Vaughan, 16 years his junior, looks equally downcast as he too tried to conceal his glum demeanour from the cameras.

It is, perhaps, a sign of the immense toll the past few weeks has taken on the pair. For it is the first time the former Radio 2 Breakfast DJ has been seen since he was sensationally axed by the last month, and he is said to be ‘struggling’.

It emerged that the now 53-year-old was questioned by police in 2018 over historical allegations – dating back some 30 years – of serious sexual offences against a teenage boy. The investigation was closed a year later, when Prosecution Service deemed there was insufficient evidence to bring charges.

But Mills was sacked at the end of last month when the BBC discovered that the alleged victim was under 16 at the time – the presenter would have been in his mid-20s.

Yesterday, Mills and Vaughan, who have been married for two years, finally broke cover from their £1.5million five-bedroom Hertfordshire property to walk their prized golden cavapoo, Teddy.

The fallen radio star’s obvious weight loss will shock his loyal fans, as it has his ‘deeply worried’ friends, who have ‘great concern’ for his wellbeing.

Known at the BBC for his fun and bubbly persona, Mills appeared a far cry from the man so recently revered on the airwaves that more than six million listeners tuned in to his show every weekday morning.

One insider close to the former presenter told the Daily Mail: ‘He is having a nightmare, he is struggling – he can’t believe it is all happening.

‘Those who love Scott are very worried for his mental health. Thankfully, it is something he has been open about for a long time, but this is tough for him. He is in bits – we don’t know how he will get through this.

‘He was always regarded as one of the nicest men in showbiz. He and Sam were always such a hoot to be around, they are a laugh and always up for a party.

‘To see them like this shows the toll that Scott’s sacking has taken on both of them.’

BBC staff were said to have been left ‘shocked’ last month when it was announced their colleague had been mysteriously sacked after almost three decades over his ‘personal conduct’.

It then emerged that Mills had been questioned by the Met Police in 2018 over allegations of ‘serious sexual assault’ committed between 1997 and 2000. It is believed he had met the alleged complainant online and the allegations were first made to Hampshire Police in 2016.

The investigation was then passed from Hampshire to Scotland Yard in December 2016, and Mills, then presenting on Radio 1, was invited to attend a London police station for questioning.

Bosses at the broadcaster were forced to admit in the days after Mills’ sacking that they had been aware of the police investigation at the time, though not, it transpired, of all the details. They revealed that a decision was made at the time to keep the presenter – who was paid at least £355,000 a year by the time of his departure – on air.

The corporation faced further humiliation when the Met Police confirmed to the Daily Mail that officers had spoken to the BBC on ‘several occasions’ over the years.

A spokesman said: ‘We have been in contact with the man’s employer on several occasions, between the start of our investigation in 2017 and the present day.’

But far from affecting his career in any way, Mills went from strength to strength at the BBC.

He was announced as host of the Strictly podcast in 2018 (after appearing on the show in 2014), presented the Eurovision Song Contest in 2019, and was given the high-profile afternoon slot at Radio 2 in 2022 before taking over the breakfast show from Zoe Ball in January last year.

In an attempt to defend the historic decision to retain Mills’ services until just three weeks ago, former BBC director general Tim Davie insisted that ‘new information’ had come to light ‘in recent weeks’ which resulted in the termination of the DJ’s contract on March 27.

Mills allegedly stayed in touch with the complainant until 2006, with claims that they were ‘friendly’ and all his acquaintances knew about him. Mills has hired solicitors at a London-based legal firm, Level, over his dismissal, but no action has yet been taken.

In the first and only statement released on Mills’ behalf by his lawyers, he thanked those who had reached out to him ‘from the bottom of my heart’.

The pictures here, as shocking as they are to see, show that there is one silver lining for Mills – the very public appearance of Vaughan, who has loyally stood by him.

They had met in 2016 at a radio awards show in Wales and married in June 2024 in front of a host of celebrities, including Ms Ball, Rylan Clark and Calvin Harris, at a villa in Barcelona.

Those who were there say it was the ‘very best day’. 

Britain also fell in love with the pair when they won the BBC2 show Celebrity Race Across The World in 2024.

One source said: ‘Sam has been a great source of support, and appearing by his side in public was a defiant display of loyalty.

‘It must be hard when your partner is accused of a sex crime, but Sam has been a trouper, he has been amazing.

‘He’s the one thing that is keeping Scott going.’