Scott Mills' BBC replacement sealed as two frontrunners 'named'

Just over a fortnight after it was confirmed BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show presenter Scott Mills had been sacked from the corporation two huge names have emerged as frontrunners to take over his role. The former BBC host was dismissed from all positions at the corporation following allegations surrounding his "personal conduct". The news was officially announced on March 30, less than a year after he took over the main breakfast show from Zoe Ball in 2025. The move made him one of the highest-paid presenters at the corporation – with his salary being between £315,000 to £319,999 in 2024.

His departure has left bosses scrambling to find a replacement and there are currently two favourites leading the field. Both Vernon Kay and Sara Cox are listed at 3/1 odds to land the coveted gig closely followed by Rylan Clark at 5/1) and Clara Amfo and Gary Davies who are both at 6/1.

Cox has already been revealed as Mills replacement for commentating this year's Eurovision Song Contest.

"Neither are strangers to Radio 2, and the odds suggest it could well be a two-horse race between Vernon Kay and Sara Cox for the Breakfast Show gig," Alex Apati of Ladbrokes has said.

Coming up the rear in the betting Roman Kemp is currently an 8/1 shot, with Emma Willis and Jordan North each priced at 10/1.

Mills was accused of serious sexual offences involving a teenage boy under the age of 16 between 1997 and 2000, with London's Metropolitan Police launching a formal investigation. After being interviewed under caution, the force dropped the case against Mills owing to insufficient evidence.

The BBC has since acknowledged that it was aware of a police investigation into historical sexual offence allegations against Mills back in 2017, yet maintained it "acted decisively" upon receiving "new information" in the weeks preceding his dismissal. The "new information" was that the teenage boy at the centre of the investigation was under 16.

Following his dismissal, Mills released a statement through his lawyers. He said: "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."

He also shed light on the police investigation, stating: "The recent announcement that I am no longer contracted to the BBC has led to the publication of rumour and speculation. 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. 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."