EastEnders fans have been left fuming after realising Scott Mills’ BBC sacking disrupts the soap’s flashforward episode in what they’re calling a ‘worst case scenario’ for writers.

The 53-year-old Radio 2 star was taken off air last week while bosses looked at a complaint about the DJ’s personal conduct before announcing his dismissal today.

The BBC said in a 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.’

Mills, who is paid between £355,000 and £359,999 a year by the BBC, took over the Radio 2 breakfast show from Zoe Ball in 2025.

Although EastEnders fans have been left disappointed for a very specific reason connected to the storylines.

On New Year’s Day, the soap aired a special flashforward episode showing a year in the future, to January 1, 2027.

The BBC announced Scott Mills’ dismissal today – although fans of EastEnders were left disappointed for a specific reason

It was hoped the writers would be able to pay off everything that had been established in that installment.

The episode briefly featured Mills’ voice on the radio, as heard by character Max Branning (Jake Wood).

He said in the voiceover: ‘How’s 2027 going for you? Time for some messages.

‘Max Branning, good luck on your wedding day. Wow, says here fifth time lucky.

‘That’s from Oscar – hotter than ever in 2027. I’m guessing you wrote that yourself, Oscar. And that one’s also from Lauren too.’

Following news of Mills’ dismissal, one viewer wrote on X: ‘Can’t believe Oscar got the sacked Scott Mills on the radio for Max for New Year I just know the #EastEnders team is shaking rn.’

Another said: ‘Scott Mills has given the eastenders writers the worse scenario.’

A third penned: ‘i just know the person who is responsible for putting scott mills in the eastenders flash forward episode is going through it right now.’

A fourth remarked: ‘The Scott Mills situation is another example of why that #EastEnders flash forward idea was an horrendous concept.

‘Unpredictable variables and just didnt suit the vibe of the programme.’

A fifth shared: ‘How will EastEnders explain that one – Scott Mills sacked from the BBC!!! Bit awkward he was featured in the flash forward episode.’

A sixth commented: ‘Scott Mills was on the radio in the #EastEnders flash forward so that’s going to have to be retconned x.’

While a seventh chimed in: ‘Of all that could go wrong in 12 months, the radio voiceover of Scott Mills was not what I thought would be the thing to eff up the flash forward!! It’s the easiest thing to fix I suppose, so there’s that.’

Elsewhere, Mills married his long-term partner Sam Vaughan at a celebrity-studded wedding in Barcelona in 2024.

Taking to X, EastEnders shared their reaction given Mills’ voice cameo in the flashforward episode

Previously, he had a three-year relationship with marketing manager Brad Harris, which ended in 2016.

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, 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.’

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

News of Mills’ sacking led the 12pm bulletin on his former station BBC Radio 2.

At the start of his show on BBC Radio 2, Jeremy Vine said he was ‘taken aback’ by the news about Scott Mills. He said: ‘Obviously, I was taken aback by that opening story to the news.

Mills married his long-term partner Sam Vaughan at a celebrity-studded wedding in Barcelona in 2024

As viewers may recall, Max Branning listened to Mills on the radio – reading out a good luck message from Max’s children Lauren and Oscar

‘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’s personal conduct, which have led to him being sacked.

‘I have no more than that. Alright, on to today’s show.’

Lorna Clarke, Director of Music, reportedly told BBC staff in an email: ‘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.’

The DJ, from Southampton, began his BBC career on Radio 1 in the late 1990s as the early breakfast host, before going on to present weekend slots and then an early evening show while providing maternity cover for Sara Cox. When Cox did not return, the programme was renamed The Scott Mills Show.

In 2022, he joined Radio 2, replacing Steve Wright in his weekday afternoon slot.

He has presented a number of shows on the station before taking up the Breakfast Show after Ball’s departure.