The BBC is wiping out all traces of sacked DJ Scott Mills by removing Top Of The Pops episodes he starred in from its archives.
Editions of the classic telly chart show from 1976 onwards are available on BBC Four. But three starring Mills have been removed.
The 53-year-old DJ, who hosted the Radio 2 breakfast show, had his contract terminated last month following an allegation relating to his ‘personal conduct’.
It emerged the Metropolitan Police had launched an investigation into Mills in 2016 over ‘allegations of serious sexual offences against a teenage boy’ who was under 16, said to have taken place between 1997 and 2000.
The Crown Prosecution Service decided ‘the evidential threshold had not been met to bring charges’ and the case was closed in 2019. Beeb bosses said, though they knew about the police probe in 2017, they sacked him after recently receiving ‘new information’.
Other stars whose Top Of The Pops repeats have been scrubbed include Jimmy Savile, Dave Lee Travis, Jonathan King, Rolf Harris, Gary Glitter, Ian Watkins, R Kelly and Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs.
Some fans moaned at the decision to scrub Mills’ Top Of The Pops episodes as he has never been charged – let alone convicted.
One tweeted: “Just noticed that the 3 upcoming Scott Mills #Totp eps have been pulled. Bah! 6.8.99, 13.8.99 and 20.8.99. BAH!!!
“Getting fed up of this now!”
Another added: “Yeh bit of an overreaction I think.”
Top Of The Pops Facts tweeted: “BBC Four are skipping the 6, 13 and 20 August editions of #TOTP as they’re the final three presented by Scott Mills.”
Mills took over the breakfast show from Zoe Ball last year after a long career at the BBC and regional radio. He was paid up to £359,999.
The presenter’s final show before he was taken off-air was on March 24.
He has since issued a statement saying: “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.
“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.”
The BBC declined to comment on the decision to remove Mills’ Top Of The Pops episode.
A source said the broadcaster does not ‘routinely remove output’ but considers its use and re-use on a ‘case-by-case basis’.
A spokesman for the broadcaster said over his sacking: “The BBC has made a significant commitment to improve its culture, processes and standards.
“Last year, following an independent culture review, we set out the behavioural expectations for everyone who works with or for the BBC and we were clear action would be taken if these were not met.”