Scott Mills is the newest high-profile title to depart Broadcasting Home beneath a ‘intercourse allegations cloud’. Simply what’s going on on the BBC? Asks Paul Baldwin
Scott Mills (Picture: Getty)
The Latin nominative inflection “quaecunque” takes pleasure of place on the BBC’s coat of arms. Its trendy interpretation could be “whatevs”.
I child you not.
And as one other day sees one more BBC “operational failing” – this time the sacking of “heat, humorous, really feel‑good” (©BBC) radio presenter Scott Mills – we will solely conclude that “whatevs” has grow to be the guideline of our as soon as beloved Reithian establishment.
Such are the systemic, cataclysmic failings which appear to stem from an intricate mess of laissez-faire administration.
No-one is aware of what Scott has or hasn’t performed.
All we all know is the 53-year-old broadcaster, famed for his “hilarious” (©BBC) innuendo bingo, has been sacked.
And we all know he was the main target of a three-year-Metropolitan Police investigation into allegations of historic severe sexual offences involving a minor. Which was canned for lack of proof.
How on earth did Scott maintain {that a} secret from his bosses for 10 years? Or did they know? I assume we are going to discover out in the end.
So let’s park Scott in the meanwhile – as a result of we genuinely don’t know if he’s a fallacious ‘un or an ideal gent proper now.
Director Common Tim Davie leaves Broadcasting Home on Thursday – and I think his sigh of aid might be audible in Salford Quays.
As a result of our fabled BBC, our beloved “Auntie” of yesteryear has grow to be, whether or not it likes it or not, poisonous – a bloated byword for conceitedness and bias.
Very similar to the NHS we actually don’t need it to fail – however it’s doing.
Simply have a look at {the catalogue} of deep deep failings – not simply cock-ups however endemic culture-war sort failings, betrayals of every little thing the BBC is meant to face for.
In no specific order:
The Jimmy Savile scandal: One of the crucial damaging crises in BBC historical past adopted the dying of creepy presenter Jimmy Savile when an ITV documentary revealed he had been a serial sexual abuser for many years.
Huw Edwards: The “revered” newsreader entrusted with saying the dying of the Queen pleaded responsible to 3 counts of constructing indecent images of youngsters.
Gregg Wallace: MasterChef host was sacked in 2025 after a misconduct investigation upheld 45 allegations of inappropriate bodily contact and sexual language.
Tim Westwood: The 68-year-old former Radio 1 DJ is accused of intercourse offences towards seven girls courting again to 1983, together with three indecent assaults at BBC studios within the Nineties. He has pleaded not responsible to all the fees.
Jeremy Clarkson: The Prime Gear presenter’s contract was not renewed after he bodily attacked a producer throughout an argument over catering.
Donald Trump “Panorama” scandal: Tim Davie and Head of Information Deborah Turness resigned after Panorama was discovered to have misleadingly spliced segments of the US President’s speech. Trump is suing the BBC for $10billion.
Bob Vylan: BBC broadcast the duo calling for members of the Jewish army to be killed as they carried out at Glastonbury.
Russell Model and Jonathan Ross: Left the BBC after a sickening broadcast the place Model boasted to actor Andrew Sachs he had intercourse together with his grand-daughter.
Gaza protection and information impartiality: Ofcom sanctioned the BBC for a “materially deceptive” documentary on youngsters in Gaza that didn’t disclose the narrator’s hyperlinks to Hamas.
Tourettes sufferer John Davidson: BBC slammed for not modifying out an N-word racial slur from its Bafta Movie Awards protection.
And on, and on.
Exhausting isn’t it?
And there’s a lot extra the place that got here from.
Martin Bashir, Dr David Kelly, Strictly bullying – it simply goes on and on and on.
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Ought to the BBC Constitution be renewed in 2027?
Whatevs.
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