Scott Mills' replacement for BBC Radio 2 announced after he was sacked

The BBC has announced that Sara Cox will replace Scott Mills as the new host of the BBC Radio 2 breakfast show, following his sacking last month.

Mills, 53, was dropped in March following allegations about his personal conduct, after the corporation received new information relating to a police investigation over alleged historic sexual offences.

The Metropolitan Police said that he had been investigated in 2016 over allegations of serious sexual offences involving a teenage boy under 16.

The investigation, which began in 2016, was dropped in 2019, as the CPS deemed there was insufficient evidence to bring charges.

However, the BBC later said it 'obtained new information' regarding the presenter and 'acted decisively in line with our culture and values and terminated his contracts on Friday 27 March'.

Sara Cox has been announced as Scott Mills' BBC Radio 2 breakfast show replacement (Joe Maher/Getty Images)

Speaking of her new role, Sara said: "There are not enough adjectives to really sum up how I’m feeling about being trusted with such an iconic show, but let’s start with ecstatic, honoured, and incredibly chuffed.

"It’s been a dream to host the Breakfast Show since I joined Radio 2, and it feels like a bit of a full circle for me."

She added: "I’ve had the most glorious seven years of my career on Teatime so thank you to my brilliant Teatime listeners who hopefully will join me at Breakfast for excellent music and all my usual nonsense plus some superstar guests. I honestly can’t wait to wake the nation up with the biggest most fun breakfast show ever."

Helen Thomas, Head of Radio 2, added: "I'm delighted that Sara Cox will be the new host of the prestigious Radio 2 Breakfast Show. Sara is adored by her millions of listeners at Teatime, and having regularly deputised in the slot, I already know she'll build a brilliant rapport with the Breakfast audience and get the nation going each morning with her trademark warmth and humour.

"She captured the hearts of the country last November, raising a staggering £11.5m for Children in Need on her Great Northern Marathon Challenge and thoroughly deserves this gig. I can't wait to hear her first show."

Sara began her BBC radio career when she joined BBC Radio 1 in 1999 to present a Saturday lunchtime show, before moving on the following year to present the Radio 1 Breakfast Show until December 2003.

Mills was sacked last month following allegations into his personal conduct (Dave Benett/Getty Images)

Over the next 11 years, the broadcaster presented various shows on the network, including the weekday afternoon show, a weekend afternoon show, and weekday mornings.

She joined Radio 2 in 2011, deputising for various presenters across the schedule, before launching Sounds of the 80s on the station in 2013.

In May 2018, Sara began presenting a weekday 10pm-midnight show on the station and then moved to host the Teatime (5-7pm) show later that year, which later got moved to the 4-7pm slot.

The BBC said the presenter of Sara's current slot will be announced in due course.

Scott Mills' statement

Scott Mills previously broke his silence on the sacking and police investigation with a statement on 1 April.

He said: "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."

The statement continued: "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."

• Radio 2 star Scott Mills sacked by the BBC following 'personal conduct' allegations
• Police issue statement on Scott Mills sexual offence investigation after he's sacked from Radio 2
• Scott Mills breaks silence on allegations after Radio 2 sacking
• Celebrity British Bake Off episode featuring Scott Mills axed