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Scott Mills will NOT headline festival amid Radio 2 sacking

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The breakfast radio host has been sacked from BBC Radio 2 over allegations relating to his personal conduct, the corporation has confirmed.

A BBC spokesperson said: “While we do not comment on matters relating to individuals, we can confirm Scott Mills is no longer contracted and has left the BBC.”

The 53-year-old from Southampton took over the breakfast show from Zoe Ball last year, and news of the sacking led the 12pm bulletin on his former station.

READ MORE: Scott Mills sacked by BBC over ‘personal conduct’ allegation

The listing on the Love to Visit website advertising Scott Mills. (Image: Love to Visit)

Mr Mills was advertised as a headliner for the Oxford: Foodies Festival 2026, on the Love to Visit website.

The event is set to take place in South Park between Saturday, August 29, and Monday, August 31.

“Headliners Boyzlife, Scott Mills and more perform live, exclusively at Foodies Festival,” reads the listing.

However, no trace of Mr Mills can be found on the official Foodies website, and organisers have told this newspaper that he was not set to perform at the festival, despite tickets being able to be bought from the Love to Visit website.

At the start of his show on BBC Radio 2, Jeremy Vine said he was “taken aback” by the news about Scott Mills.

READ MORE: Jeremy Clarkson addresses reunion with Richard Hammond rumours

Crowds at Foodies Festival (Image: Tom Martin / Wales News Service)

He said: “Obviously, I was taken aback by that opening story to the news.

“I had not heard anything about it until 17 minutes ago, when it was on the BBC website and I only had the information that was given to you in the bulletin.

“I have nothing more, that it was allegations about Scott Mills’ personal conduct, which have led to him being sacked.

“I have no more than that. All right, on to today’s show.”

The presenter was last on air on Tuesday, with veteran DJ Gary Davies replacing him from Wednesday onwards.

As he handed over on what was to become his final show, Mr Mills joked about waxing his legs and doing Stars In Their Eyes with fellow Radio 2 presenter Vernon Kay, before signing off with: “See you tomorrow.”

Mr Davies did not address the reason for Mr Mills’ absence when he began Wednesday’s show, telling listeners: “Morning, Gary in for Scott.”

In an email sent to staff, Lorna Clarke, 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.”

Mr Mills was due to support Boyzone on their Two For The Road gigs in June.

The presenter is reported to earn between £355,000 and £359,999 as of the corporation’s last annual report.





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Oxford News

Jeremy Clarkson issues heart breaking cancer update

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The 66-year-old broadcaster and journalist made the announcement during the final two episodes of the fifth series of Clarkson’s Farm, released on Wednesday.

He shared the news with co-stars Kaleb Cooper and Charlie Ireland during a conversation at his Diddly Squat Farm in Oxfordshire.

Mr Clarkson said: “I’ve got cancer.”



When Mr Cooper asked where the cancer was located, Mr Clarkson replied: “Where it is, is of no concern to anybody.

“I’ve known since May.”

He explained that the cancer was detected early following a medical in May and described it as “aggressive”.

Mr Clarkson said: “I was praying we could get the harvest done and then I could go and get some treatment, but it’s going to be slap bang in the middle.”

Later in the episode, he revealed he had surgery to remove 10 per cent of his prostate.

He also reflected on what has been a difficult year for his health, including a serious heart issue that required the fitting of two stents.



He said: “So we started the year and I had coronary heart disease and ended it with me with cancer.”

The series ends with footage of Mr Clarkson in a hospital bed as he undergoes treatment.

He told viewers: “Some of the treatment has gone awry, let’s say.

“I’m going to be here for a little while.

“I’m nil by mouth, I don’t know what’s going to happen.


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“What I wanted to say was if this is all successful, I’ll see you for season six, and if it isn’t, I won’t.

“Take care, everyone.”

Despite his diagnosis, Mr Clarkson continued working throughout 2025.

Production on the sixth series of Clarkson’s Farm is now expected to pause to allow time for his recovery.

What do you think of the latest Clarkson’s Farm series? Let us know in the comments





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New Oxford pubs and bars app shows live pub deals and offers

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Charlbury-based Richard Coffey launched Bar Trender around six weeks ago to help businesses facing damage, and ultimately closure, from rising costs and economic uncertainty.

Richard Coffey started the venture which has been accepted by a plethora of Oxford pubs and bars (Image: Richard Coffey)

In the city, 22 venues have signed up, including pubs in hotspots such as Cowley Road and Jericho.

The venture was seeded while travelling in Australia. There, he noticed Sydney and Melbourne’s bar scenes were built around happy hours, a culture which he said didn’t really exist back in the UK.

After 10 years of hard work, after leaving a London start-up, he pursued the venture with the help of Artificial Intelligence to cut team and budget requirements.

READ MORE: Oxford MPs welcome social media ban but warn of implementation

He said: “I kept finding myself not knowing what was on, where had decent deals, or which pubs had the features I was looking for. The information existed, it just wasn’t anywhere in one place.”

The app, which provides full autonomy to the business, helps to boost their sales by providing visibility and awareness for the consumer.

Bar Trender app (Image: Bar Trender)

He says this comes at a time when people are “more conscious than ever about where they spend their money”.

He said: “The idea of being able to see what deals are near you before you decide where to go is genuinely useful right now in a way it perhaps wouldn’t have been five years ago.

“The cost of living crisis has fundamentally changed how people make decisions about going out.

“It’s not that people don’t want to go out, but they’re making more considered choices about where they spend their money.”

READ MORE: Crowds gathered for family-friendly fun day in Oxfordshire village

The venture will also support the wider hospitality sector, which is also under “enormous pressure”.

Bar Trender is proud to support Tom Kerridge’s VAT’s The Problem campaign, which is calling for a 10 per cent cut in VAT for hospitality venues.

Bar Trender app is available on app stores now (Image: Richard Coffey)

He said: “Energy costs, wage increases, food and drink inflation and the lingering effects of the pandemic have squeezed margins to the point where venues that were thriving five years ago are now struggling to survive.

“We’re seeing more pub closures than at any point in recent memory and once they are lost, are very rarely replaced.”

A launch event will take place at Plush on Friday, June 16, with free shots and drink vouchers available to anyone who has the app downloaded.

Christopher Farr, owner of the LGBTQ+ night club and bar, said the venue is committed to making clubbing safe, affordable and fun.

He said: “The partnership is the perfect way to communicate our affordable drink deals in a fun and easy to use app.”





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Oxfordshire SEND plan aims to improve support for children

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Oxfordshire County Council’s SEND reform proposals were discussed by its cabinet on Tuesday, June 16.

They include expanding inclusion in mainstream schools, boosting recruitment of educational psychologists and therapists, and creating inclusion support bases.

Sean Gaul, the council’s cabinet member for children, education and young people’s services, said: “Every child deserves an opportunity to thrive whatever their circumstances and this plan sets out how we will deliver better, more inclusive support for children and young people with SEND.

“We are working closely with partners and with families, children and young people who are at the heart of the SEND system.”

Ofsted has previously recognised recent improvements in Oxfordshire’s SEND services, including better joint commissioning and reduced waiting times.

The plan has been developed in consultation with health partners, schools, and the Oxfordshire Parent Carer Forum, and focuses on early intervention, universal and targeted support, and improved outcomes.

If approved, the council will receive a high needs stability grant, potentially covering up to 90 per cent of its dedicated schools grant deficit.

Mr Gaul said: “It’s a vital step towards improving outcomes while making sure our services are sustainable for the future.”

The reform plan is part of the council’s response to national education reforms, including the ‘Every child achieving and thriving’ Schools White Paper and the ‘putting children and young people first’ SEND consultation.

Councils must submit their SEND reform plans to the Department for Education by 19 June.





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