Scott Mills ‘stepping back’ from role as MS Society UK ambassador

Scott Mills will be “stepping back” from his role as an ambassador for MS Society UK, the charity has announced.

The former Radio 2 DJ was sacked by the BBC after it emerged the Metropolitan Police launched an investigation into the 53-year-old in 2016 over allegations of serious sexual offences involving a teenage boy under 16 between 1997 and 2000.

The corporation has since admitted it knew about a police investigation into allegations against Mills of a historical sexual offence in 2017, but said it “acted decisively” after receiving “new information” in the weeks before his sacking.

Mills has been an advocate for multiple sclerosis (MS) for more than a decade, having become an ambassador for MS Society UK as his mother, Sandra, was diagnosed with the progressive neurological condition.

A statement released by the charity on Tuesday 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. Our priority is the MS community and ensuring we can continue to support everyone living with and affected by MS.”

Mills has been an ambassador for the charity, which supports people affected by the condition, since 2015.

During his time working with MS Society UK, the broadcaster has helped with fundraising events including its MS walks and worked to raise awareness for the condition.

MS is a disease of the central nervous system affecting the brain, spinal cord and optic nerves – and causing symptoms like fatigue, numbness, vision issues, and walking difficulties, according to the NHS.

It has also been announced that children’s cancer charity Neuroblastoma UK has decided to “part ways” with Mills, who had been a patron since 2021.

A statement from the charity said: “Following his dismissal from the BBC, Neuroblastoma UK have taken the decision to part ways with Scott Mills and he is no longer a patron of our charity.”

He has also been dropped as the host of the BBC’s new Race Across The World spin-off podcast.

On Wednesday last week, Mills released a statement through his lawyers saying he had been the subject of “rumour and speculation” since he was fired, and that he “co-operated fully” with the police investigation into allegations of a historical sexual offence.