Mills, 53, was sacked by the BBC after bosses discovered the alleged victim in a police investigation into allegations of sexual offences made against the DJ was under the age of 16.

In a statement, MS Society said: “Scott Mills has been a valued MS Society ambassador for over 10 years. In light of the current news, Scott is stepping back from this role while we review the situation.

“We take concerns of this nature and the trust placed in us as a charity extremely seriously.”

MS Society is the largest organisation dedicated to helping those living with MS, a currently incurable condition that affects the brain and spinal cord.

Mills, whose mother has MS, originally became an ambassador for the charity in 2015.

It is understood that Mills will also lose his honorary doctorate of arts from Southampton Solent University when the institution’s honorary doctorate scrutiny panel meets later in April.

Mills had his BBC contract terminated on 27 March over an allegation relating to his “personal conduct”.

It later emerged that the Metropolitan Police had launched an investigation into Mills in December 2016 over “allegations of serious sexual offences against a teenage boy”.

BBC sacked Scott Mills ‘after discovering alleged victim in police investigation was under 16’

Scott Mills releases statement after BBC sacking as he addresses police investigation

Scott Mills was investigated over allegations of ‘serious sexual offences’ against boy under 16

The offences were said to have taken place between 1997 and 2000, when Mills would have been in his mid-20s.

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However, the police force said the Crown Prosecution Service ultimately decided “the evidential threshold had not been met to bring charges”, and that the case was closed in May 2019.

In his first public statement since his sacking, Mills said: “The recent announcement that I am no longer contracted to the BBC has led to the publication of rumour and speculation.”

He went on to say: “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.

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“As the police have stated, a file of evidence was submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service, which determined that the evidential threshold had not been met to bring charges.

“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.”

Pressure has been mounting over West’s planned headline spot, with calls for organisers to cancel the booking and for the government to ban the rapper from entering the UK.

Wireless organisers announced the US rapper last week as a triple headliner for all three nights of the event in London in July – but were met with strong criticism over his previous antisemitic comments.

Sky News understands Rockstar Energy has withdrawn its sponsorship, after Pepsi and Diageo also pulled out.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said it was “deeply concerning” that West had been booked “despite his previous antisemitic remarks and celebration of Nazism” – and over the weekend, Pepsi and Diageo withdrew as sponsors of the event.

Now, the Conservative Party has urged the government to refuse West entry to the UK.

Shadow home secretary Chris Philp described the musician’s previous comments as “not a one-off lapse, but a pattern of behaviour that has caused real offence and distress to Jewish communities”.

He added: “At a time when antisemitism is rising in the UK, allowing someone with his track record to headline a major public event sends entirely the wrong message.”

‘He shouldn’t be performing’

On Monday afternoon, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson described comments made by West in the past as “completely unacceptable and absolutely disgusting”.

Asked if the rapper, also known as Ye, should be blocked from coming to the UK, she said: “I don’t think he should be performing at the music festival, but I can’t comment on specific individual cases that will be considered in line with immigration rules. But there is no place for that kind of hatred, bigotry or antisemitism from him or from anyone else.”

Wireless Festival is yet to comment on the backlash, and West remains listed as headliner for the event.

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As well as Pepsi and Diageo, a drinks company which owns brands including Johnnie Walker and Captain Morgan, Sky News understands that PayPal, a payment partner for the festival, will not appear in any future promotional materials.

West, 48, has not performed in the UK since his headline slot at Glastonbury in 2015. Since then, the rapper has drawn criticism for antisemitic posts on social media, a Super Bowl advert directing people to a swastika T-shirt, and a song referencing Hitler.

He has been barred from X over antisemitism on multiple occasions, and also lost a partnership with Adidas after comments he made in 2022.

West’s apology

In January, the rapper took out a full-page advert in the Wall Street Journal to apologise, titled: “To Those I’ve Hurt.”

“I am not a Nazi or an antisemite,” it said. “I love Jewish people.”

He blamed his behaviour on his bipolar-1 disorder, something he said resulted from a car accident 25 years ago.

“I lost touch with reality,” he said. “Things got worse the longer I ignored the problem. I said and did things I deeply regret.”

At the time, the Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) charity said it was “hard to keep up with Kanye West’s apologies and relapses”.

A spokesperson said: “We hope for his sake – and for Jewish people worldwide who have enough antisemitism to worry about right now – that he will show some real change.”

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The CAA is now among those backing a ban on West entering the UK.

The charity added: “The government can ban anyone from entering the UK who is not a citizen and whose presence would ‘not be conducive to the public good’. Surely this is a clear case.”

Jewish community organisations have criticised the festival, with Phil Rosenberg, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, saying bookers had made the “wrong decision”.

Sky News has contacted organisers of Wireless Festival for comment.

The US rapper has previously been condemned over his antisemitic remarks.

The 48-year-old musician – who has not performed in the UK since he headlined Glastonbury in 2015 – is set to top the bill for all three nights of the festival in London’s Finsbury Park in July.

A Diageo spokesperson said: “We have informed the organisers of our concerns and as it stands, Diageo will not sponsor the 2026 Wireless festival.”

Earlier on Sunday, a Pepsi spokesperson said: “Pepsi has decided to withdraw its sponsorship of Wireless Festival.”

Sky News has approached festival organisers for a response.

In the time since he last performed on UK soil, West has drawn criticism for antisemitic X posts, a Super Bowl advert directing people to a swastika T-shirt and a song referencing Hitler.

Sir Keir said it was “deeply concerning” that West has been booked “despite his previous antisemitic remarks and celebration of Nazism”.

“Antisemitism in any form is abhorrent and must be confronted clearly and firmly wherever it appears. Everyone has a responsibility to ensure Britain is a place where Jewish people feel safe and secure,” the prime minister said.

West, also known as Ye, has been barred from X over antisemitism on multiple occasions.

In January, West took out a full-page advert in the Wall Street Journal to apologise, titled: “To Those I’ve Hurt.”

“I am not a Nazi or an antisemite,” it said. “I love Jewish people.”

West attributed his previous outbursts to his bipolar-1 disorder, writing: “In early 2025, I fell into a four-month-long manic episode of psychotic, paranoid and impulsive behaviour that destroyed my life.

“I lost touch with reality. Things got worse the longer I ignored the problem. I said and did things I deeply regret.”

The rapper also apologised to the black community, saying he had let it down.

West previously lost his deal with Adidas following a post on his social media in 2022, in which he shared an image of a swastika inside a Star of David.

Adidas, which had worked with the rapper on his Yeezy trainers, subsequently donated more than $150m (£117m) to anti-hate groups.

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Shortly afterwards, he drew criticism over a TV advert that directed people to a website selling a swastika t-shirt and released a song titled Heil Hitler.

Sir Ed Davey, the leader of the Liberal Democrats, last week called for the government to ban West from entering the UK.

He said Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood should “ban him from coming to this country – we’ve got to take antisemitism more seriously”.

Sky News understands the Home Office is yet to receive an application for West to enter the UK.

The US rapper has previously been condemned over his antisemitic remarks.

The 48-year-old musician – who has not performed in the UK since he headlined Glastonbury in 2015 – is set to top the bill for all three nights of the festival in London’s Finsbury Park in July.

On Sunday, a Pepsi spokesperson said: “Pepsi has decided to withdraw its sponsorship of Wireless Festival.”

In the time since he last performed on UK soil, West has drawn criticism for antisemitic X posts, a Super Bowl advert directing people to a swastika T-shirt and a song referencing Hitler.

Sir Keir Starmer said it was “deeply concerning” that West has been booked “despite his previous antisemitic remarks and celebration of Nazism”.

“Antisemitism in any form is abhorrent and must be confronted clearly and firmly wherever it appears. Everyone has a responsibility to ensure Britain is a place where Jewish people feel safe and secure,” the prime minister said.

West, also known as Ye, has been barred from X over antisemitism on multiple occasions.

In January, West took out a full-page advert in the Wall Street Journal to apologise, titled: “To Those I’ve Hurt.”

“I am not a Nazi or an antisemite,” it said. “I love Jewish people.”

Google users can see more from their preferred sources in search results – click here to make yours Sky News

West attributed his previous outbursts to his bipolar-1 disorder, writing: “In early 2025, I fell into a four-month-long manic episode of psychotic, paranoid and impulsive behaviour that destroyed my life.

“I lost touch with reality. Things got worse the longer I ignored the problem. I said and did things I deeply regret.”

The rapper also apologised to the black community, saying he had let it down.

He was “an incredibly handsome man”, he jokes, before expanding on their relationship later in life.

Cranston tells Sky News: “I remember taking my father to therapy once. And he recited back to me and my siblings. We thought this was a great breakthrough [that we’d be] able to finally talk about his past and the war.

“It wasn’t that way. He was too closed down. He quoted Oedipus. I don’t think he realised it, but he did. He said: ‘I’d rather stick needles in my eyes than go through that again.’ It’s like, that’s how painful it was.”

It wasn’t the ideal father-son relationship, with Joseph Cranston, a jobbing actor and scriptwriter, walking out on his family when Bryan was just 11.

They would reconnect years later and stay in contact until Joseph’s death in 2014, aged 90, but the damage had been done.

Now 70 himself, with a daughter (Taylor Deardon, also an actor, currently starring in medical drama The Pitt), Cranston has drawn on his father’s memory to play Joe Keller, a self-made businessman who justifies his wrongdoing in the play as necessary for success.

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“There’s a lot of my father in this character that I play. I just plucked him and said, ‘Come with me’. And we’re on stage together…

“It’s like, that’s my character there. And ironically, my father’s name was Joe.”

Would his father have recognised himself?

“I hope that he would be able to see it. But you know, it’s easier to see other people in someone else than it is yourself.”

‘It’s an actor’s sin to judge your character’

Cranston stars in the National Theatre production opposite Marianne Jean-Baptiste, who plays his wife Kate Keller. Although born in south London, she has lived in LA for more than two decades.

With the play famously deconstructing the American Dream, is the current polarisation of politics in the US something that is feeding into their performance?

Jean-Baptiste says not: “I think you can’t play to that. You’re aware of it, obviously, but we just play the truth of the characters, their relationships, their experiences.”

Cranston agrees: “It’s an actor’s sin to judge your character… We have to stay subjective and let the audience feel that… If we have them talking when they’re leaving the theatre and still feeling it, we’ve really done our job.”

‘Post-truth era – it makes me shiver’

Jean-Baptiste gained widespread recognition and an Oscar nomination for her role in Mike Leigh’s 1996 film Secrets And Lies, themes both central to this play.

But in our post-truth era, where lies can be reframed as alternative facts, are the secrets and lies in the play open for fresh interpretation?

Jean-Baptiste says that’s the beauty of a play: “No two people are going to have the same experience. Different things are going to resonate with different people.

“I never argue with anybody when they come to see a play [and say] ‘Oh, that was about that’. I’m interested and intrigued by why they thought it, but it’s theirs.”

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Cranston agrees that art is so subjective, no one can be wrong. But he couches that with a word of warning for the play’s modern audience.

“Post-truth era, it makes me shiver. But it’s true that the perception of the truth is even more powerful than the truth itself. And that’s a scary thing.”

All My Sons, directed by Ivo van Hove, releases to cinemas worldwide through NT Live from 16 April.

The 48-year-old rapper – who has not performed in the UK since he headlined Glastonbury in 2015 – will top the bill for all three nights of Wireless festival in July.

In the time since he last performed on UK soil, West has drawn criticism for antisemitic X posts, a Super Bowl advert directing people to a swastika t-shirt and a song referencing Hitler.

Sir Keir Starmer said in a statement: “It is deeply concerning that Kanye West has been booked to perform at Wireless despite his previous antisemitic remarks and celebration of Nazism.

“Antisemitism in any form is abhorrent and must be confronted clearly and firmly wherever it appears. Everyone has a responsibility to ensure Britain is a place where Jewish people feel safe and secure.”

West, also known as Ye, has been barred from X over antisemitism on multiple occasions.

In December 2022, the Power rapper’s account was suspended after a post showing a swastika inside a Star of David.

Adidas, which worked with West on his Yeezy trainers, cut ties with him after the incident and donated more than $150m (£117m) to anti-hate groups.

In February last year, West deleted his account after being criticised for posting “hate-filled” remarks about Jewish people, as well as writing “I love Hitler” and “I’m a Nazi”.

Weeks later, he drew criticism over a TV advert that directed people to a website selling a swastika t-shirt and released a song titled Heil Hitler.

Google users can see more from their preferred sources in search results – click here to make yours Sky News

In January, West took out a full-page advert in the Wall Street Journal to apologise to Jewish and black people, titled: “To Those I’ve Hurt.”

“I am not a Nazi or an antisemite,” it said. “I love Jewish people.”

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The 48-year-old attributed his previous outbursts to his bipolar-1 disorder, writing: “In early 2025, I fell into a four-month-long manic episode of psychotic, paranoid and impulsive behaviour that destroyed my life.

“I lost touch with reality. Things got worse the longer I ignored the problem. I said and did things I deeply regret.”

“I regret and am deeply mortified by my actions in that state, and am committed to accountability, treatment, and meaningful change,” he continued. “It does not excuse what I did though.”

Wireless Festival was contacted for comment.

The ​decision to throw out most of the claims in the case was made by District Judge Lewis Liman in Manhattan on Thursday on jurisdictional grounds.

Lively accused Baldoni of sexual harassment in connection with the filming of their 2024 romantic drama It Ends With Us.

The 38-year-old actress – who is married to Ryan Reynolds – sued Baldoni, his production company Wayfarer Studios and others, seeking damages for alleged harassment, defamation, invasion of privacy and violations ‌of federal and state civil rights laws.

She claimed the defendants created a sexually charged atmosphere during the film’s production and then schemed to silence her from speaking out.

The film starred Lively and Baldoni, who was also the director.

Baldoni – who denies any wrongdoing – argued he addressed his co-star’s concerns as soon as she raised them and defended his decision to hire a crisis management firm after Lively began disparaging him publicly.

In his ruling, Judge Liman said Lively had sued under a ​California law but the alleged wrongful conduct took place elsewhere.

He said Lively could pursue a retaliation claim against Wayfarer Studios, in addition to a contract claim and an aiding and ​abetting claim against various defendants.

The rift became public in December 2024 when Lively filed a complaint with the California civil rights department, followed by her lawsuit.

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The New York Times published an article about the events, titled: “‘We Can Bury Anyone’: Inside a Hollywood Smear Machine.”

Baldoni ⁠sued Lively and Reynolds for defamation, accusing the couple of destroying his reputation, but Judge Liman dismissed the case in June.

He also dismissed Baldoni’s case against The New York Times.

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It Ends With Us is about a flower shop owner, played by Lively, who marries a neurosurgeon ​played by Baldoni, but the marriage falls apart when he becomes abusive, reminding the florist of her own parents’ relationship.

The 53-year-old DJ, who hosted the Radio 2 breakfast show, had his contract terminated last Friday over an allegation relating to his “personal conduct”.

It emerged the Metropolitan Police had launched an investigation into Mills in December 2016 over “allegations of serious sexual offences against a teenage boy”, said to have taken place between 1997 and 2000.

However, the Crown Prosecution Service ultimately decided “the evidential threshold had not been met to bring charges”, and the case was closed in May 2019, the police force added.

The BBC confirmed on Wednesday that the organisation was aware of the investigation in 2017, but dismissed him after receiving “new information” in recent weeks.

The broadcaster reported on Thursday that the corporation had sacked the presenter “after learning the alleged victim in the police investigation was under 16”.

“It is not clear if BBC managers at the time of the investigation in 2017 knew the age – but current management only became aware in recent weeks and took action,” it reported.

Mills issued his first public statement later on Wednesday since news broke of his dismissal.

“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,” he said.

“As the police have stated, a file of evidence was submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service, which determined that the evidential threshold had not been met to bring charges.

“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.”

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Mills’ final show before he was taken off-air by the BBC was Tuesday 24 March.

He signed off by saying “back tomorrow”, but the following day’s show was presented by Gary Davies, who did not give a reason for Mills’ absence.

Mills took over from Zoe Ball on Radio 2’s breakfast show in 2025 after a long career at the BBC and regional radio. He was paid between £355,000 and £359,999.

Earlier on Wednesday, a BBC spokesperson said the corporation “spoke directly” with Mills before terminating his contract.

The statement went on: “The BBC has made a significant commitment to improve its culture, processes and standards.

“Last year, following an independent culture review, we set out the behavioural expectations for everyone who works with or for the BBC and we were clear action would be taken if these were not met.”

The former Little Mix star has campaigned for all newborn babies to be screened for the rare condition after her twins, Ocean Jade and Story Monroe Nelson, were diagnosed.

They were found to have the condition, which causes progressive muscle wastage, which Nelson says means they will probably never walk, after being born prematurely last year.

The 34-year-old launched a petition for more health checks for babies, appearing on Sky News to promote her campaign, and it reached 100,000 signatures.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting has now announced the checks will be rolled out as part of in-screening evaluations from this October, rather than January 2027.

These are used to test proposed screening programmes before they are adopted nationally.

In a letter to Nelson and Giles Lomax, the boss of the SMA UK charity, Mr Streeting said he was keen on a full rollout and promised to keep them updated.

Nelson, a patron of the charity, celebrated the news in a post on Instagram.

“I am so proud, as this is a major milestone for the SMA community,” she said.

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Early treatment can help prevent some of the most devastating consequences of her twins’ condition.

They have had a one-off infusion that puts a missing gene back into their body to stop other muscles from dying, however, they will not be able to regain any muscles that have already died.

Mr Lomax said his charity would continue to work towards a UK-wide rollout of SMA screening, adding: “No baby should be left behind based on where they live.”

The 52-year-old DJ, who hosted the Radio 2 breakfast show, had his contract terminated over the weekend following an allegation relating to his “personal conduct”.

It emerged the Metropolitan Police had launched an investigation into Mills in December 2016 over “allegations of serious sexual offences against a teenage boy” who was under 16, said to have taken place between 1997 and 2000.

However, the Crown Prosecution Service ultimately decided “the evidential threshold had not been met to bring charges” and the case was closed in May 2019.

The BBC confirmed on Wednesday it knew about the police probe in 2017 but sacked him after receiving “new information” in the weeks before he was dismissed.

In a statement, Mills said: “The recent announcement that I am no longer contracted to the BBC has led to the publication of rumour and speculation.”

He went on to confirm that he was the person at the centre of the Metropolitan Police investigation.

The statement continued: “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.

“As the police have stated, a file of evidence was submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service, which determined that the evidential threshold had not been met to bring charges.

“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.”

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Mills was taken off air by the BBC last Tuesday.

He signed off that show saying “back tomorrow”, but Gary Davies presented Wednesday’s show.

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Mills took over from Zoe Ball on Radio 2’s breakfast show in 2025 after a long career at the BBC and regional radio. He was paid between £355,000 and £359,999.

Earlier on Wednesday, the BBC had revealed that it knew about the investigation into Mills back in 2017.

However they only moved to dismiss him once they “obtained new information”.

In a statement, a spokesperson said that they “spoke directly” with Mills before terminating his contract on 27 March.

The statement went on: “The BBC has made a significant commitment to improve its culture, processes and standards.

“Last year, following an independent culture review, we set out the behavioural expectations for everyone who works with or for the BBC and we were clear action would be taken if these were not met.”

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