Scott Mills' BBC Exit Threatens Race Across the World Podcast Launch
The highly anticipated launch of a new Race Across the World spin-off podcast is now in serious jeopardy, mere days before its scheduled 2026 debut, following the sudden sacking of presenter Scott Mills from the BBC. The former Radio 2 DJ was terminated on Monday after a complaint surfaced regarding a police investigation into allegations of serious sexual offences against a boy under 16.
High-Profile Career Cut Short Amidst Allegations
Scott Mills, 53, was one of the BBC's highest-paid personalities, earning between £315,000 and £319,999 in 2025 after taking over the Radio 2 Breakfast Show from Zoe Ball. His dismissal has sent shockwaves through the broadcasting industry and directly impacts the upcoming podcast, The Detour, which was set to feature Mills and fellow Race Across the World winner Alfie Watts. The podcast aimed to provide behind-the-scenes insights into the sixth series of the popular travel competition, scheduled to premiere this Thursday.
Police Investigation Details and BBC Response
According to a Metropolitan Police spokesperson, an investigation was initiated in December 2016 following a referral from another police force. The allegations involved serious sexual offences against a teenage boy. A man in his 40s was questioned under caution in July 2018, with the alleged incidents reported to have occurred between 1997 and 2000. The Crown Prosecution Service reviewed the evidence but determined that the threshold for charges was not met, leading to the investigation's closure in May 2019. Despite no charges being filed, the BBC acted swiftly, with Lorna Clarke, Director of Music, informing staff that Mills has "left the Breakfast show and the BBC." A BBC statement confirmed his departure without commenting on individual matters.
Impact on Race Across the World and Future Prospects
The civilian series of Race Across the World is set to proceed, featuring contestants traveling 12,000 kilometers from Palermo, Italy, to Hatgal, Mongolia, across eight countries. However, the fate of The Detour podcast remains uncertain. Mills had previously won the celebrity version of the show in 2024 with his husband Sam Vaughan, racing over 12,500 kilometers from Brazil to Chile. Alfie Watts, his co-host for the podcast, won the fourth civilian series in 2024 with best friend Owen Wood, becoming the youngest winners ever after completing a 15,000-kilometer route from Japan to Indonesia. The recent celebrity edition was won by broadcaster Roman Kemp and his sister Harley Moon, racing from Mexico to Colombia.
As the entertainment world reacts to this development, including comments from figures like Jeremy Vine who called the sacking "unfair," the focus now shifts to whether the BBC will proceed with the podcast without Mills or scrap it entirely. Metro has reached out to the BBC for further comment, but no updates have been provided at this time.
