The BBC has apologised for failing to investigate after allegations about Scott Mills were raised with the broadcaster almost a year ago.
The Radio 2 Breakfast Show host was abruptly taken off air by the BBC last week before his sacking over allegations related to his "personal conduct" was announced on Monday.
It emerged on Tuesday that he was questioned by police over allegations of serious sexual offences against a teenage boy under 16 in 2018, but the case was dropped due to lack of evidence.
The claims relate to when Mills was working at BBC Radio 1, and it is not known if the BBC was told of the investigation at the time.
It is not clear if his sacking is related to the police investigation.
But it has since emerged the BBC was made aware of separate allegations against Mills almost a year ago but failed to investigate.
According to the Telegraph, a freelance journalist contacted the BBC in May 2025 to say she had received information about alleged "inappropriate communications" involving Mills and asked whether the broadcaster was "ever aware of or involved in any related matters".
The BBC was also asked by the journalist whether it had ever received any "formal or informal complaints" about Mills "relating to safeguarding, inappropriate conduct or harassment" and whether it had ever conducted an internal investigation into him, The Telegraph said.
It added that she did not receive a response.
In a statement the BBC said: "We received a press query in 2025 which included limited information. This should have been followed up and we should have asked further questions. We apologise for this and will look into why this did not happen.
"More broadly, we would always urge anyone who has concerns or information to raise it with us."
The Metropolitan Police said it had launched an investigation in December 2016 "following a referral from another police force" relating to "allegations of serious sexual offences against a teenage boy".
"These were reported to have taken place between 1997 and 2000,” they said. "As part of these inquiries, a man who was in his 40s at the time of the interview was questioned by police under caution in July 2018.
"A full file of evidence was submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service, who determined the evidential threshold had not been met to bring charges. Following this advice, the investigation was closed in May 2019."
The Met confirmed the boy was under 16.
News of Mills's sacking led Monday's noon bulletin on his former station BBC Radio 2 and the broadcaster issued a news alert on Tuesday reporting the closed police investigation.
In an email sent to staff on Monday, Lorna Clarke, the BBC's director of music, wrote: "I wanted to personally let you know that Scott Mills has left the breakfast show, and the BBC.
"I know that this news will be sudden and unexpected, and therefore must come as a shock. Not least as so many of us have worked with Scott over a great many years, across a broad range of our programmes on R1, 5Live, R2 and TV.
"I felt it was important to share this news with you at the earliest opportunity.
"Of course, it will also come as a shock to our audience and loyal breakfast show listeners too. I will update everyone with more information on plans for the show when I'm able to.
"While I appreciate many of you will have questions, I hope you can understand that I am not going to be saying anything further now."
Mills has been contacted for comment.
The BBC said it would not comment beyond an earlier statement: "While we do not comment on matters relating to individuals, we can confirm Scott Mills is no longer contracted to work with the BBC."
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch told the Press Association on a visit to Hertfordshire: "This is yet another scandal that the BBC has to contend with.
"It is a large and complex organisation, and I think that this is one of the things that the new director-general is going to need to get to grips with."
Outgoing director-general Tim Davie will leave the BBC this week.
He will be replaced by interim director-general, Rhodri Talfan Davies, on April 2, before former Google boss Matt Brittin becomes permanent director-general on May 18.
