Scott Mills will be replaced by former Strictly Come Dancing contestant Tyler West as the host of the BBC’s new Race Across The World spin-off podcast after being fired from BBC Radio 2.
Race Across The World: The Detour is described as the main programme’s “younger, wilder sibling”, and will chart the ups and downs of the upcoming series of the hit BBC show.
Mills, who won the most recent celebrity version of Race Across The World with his husband Sam Vaughan, had been due to host the video podcast, which will be available on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds.
However, he was sacked by the BBC last week after it emerged the Metropolitan Police launched an investigation into the 53-year-old in 2016 over allegations of serious sexual offences involving a teenage boy under 16 between 1997 and 2000.
The police investigation was closed in 2019 after prosecutors decided there was insufficient evidence to bring charges.
Radio DJ West, the host of the Kiss FM breakfast show, who competed in the same series of Celebrity Race Across The World as Mills, will now take over the role.
The podcast will also feature series four winner Alfie Watts, sharing his top travel tips and hacks.
Race Across The World sees teams of civilians participate in an epic race across countries without phones or credit cards and only the cash equivalent of the airfare to get there.
Race Across The World: The Detour will be available on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds immediately after the first episode of the new series airs on Thursday night.
Guest will include travel influencers, comedians and celebrity fans of the show, such as West’s partner and actress Molly Rainford, with whom he competed on the celebrity version of the show.
Race Across The World: The Detour will be available weekly on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds from Thursday April 2, straight after the TV episode airs.
Mills was abruptly taken off air by the BBC last week before his firing on Friday over allegations related to his "personal conduct".
It emerged this week that he was questioned by police over allegations of serious sexual offences involving a teenage boy under 16 in 2018, but the case was dropped due to lack of evidence.
The offences said to have taken place between 1997 and 2000.
The BBC has confirmed it knew in 2017 about the police investigation into one of its biggest stars, but said it “acted decisively” to sack him after receiving “new information” in recent weeks.
It is not clear whether BBC bosses knew of the alleged victim’s age in 2017, but current managers took the decision to sack Mills after learning they had been under 16, BBC News reported.
Mills broke his silence on his sacking in an emotional statement on Wednesday.
“The recent announcement that I am no longer contracted to the BBC has led to the publication of rumour and speculation,” he said through his lawyer.
“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.
“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.”
