In an official announcement released this week, the BBC confirmed that Mills is no longer part of its Radio 2 presenting team. The corporation did not provide further details, stating only that the matter concerned “personal conduct”. No public statement has been issued by Mills himself or his representatives.

After taking over his BBC Radio 2 show from Zoe Ball back in January 2025, on Tuesday, 24 March 2026, Mills ended the programme at 9:30 am, originally stating he’d return the following day. The following morning, however, DJ Gary Davies hosted Mills’ usual show, stating that he was “in for Scott Mills“.

This news was first reported by The Mirror, which stated the belief it was to do with “a historic relationship“.

Mills joined BBC Radio 2 in 2022, taking over the weekday afternoon show previously hosted by Steve Wright. His move followed more than two decades with BBC Radio 1, where he became one of the station’s most recognisable presenters. Known for his upbeat delivery and long-standing collaboration with producer and co-host Chris Stark, Mills played a central role in shaping the tone of mainstream BBC radio entertainment throughout the 2000s and 2010s.

Before joining the BBC, Mills began his career in local radio and quickly built a national profile. Over the years, he also appeared on television projects linked to BBC radio, including coverage of live music events and charity broadcasts.

Radio industry observers have described Mills’ departure as one of the most significant changes to Radio 2’s schedule in recent years. The station is expected to fill the weekday afternoon slot with temporary cover until a permanent replacement is confirmed.

No internal details have been made public regarding the review or timeline of events leading up to the dismissal. The BBC has not elaborated on the nature or specifics of the conduct involved, stating that it does not comment on individual staffing matters.

Listeners have widely discussed the announcement on social media, reflecting on Mills’ contribution to BBC radio and his role in defining daytime programming over the past two decades. Many noted his distinctive broadcasting style and the long-running rapport he built with audiences during his time at both Radio 1 and Radio 2.

Mills’ departure brings an end to a 25-year career within the BBC, marking a major shift for the Radio 2 schedule.

Further updates on programming and scheduling decisions are expected to follow from the broadcaster in the coming days.

Iggy Pop, now 78, is pausing his 6 Music duties after around twelve years on the station to focus on other musical projects, with plans already in place for him to return in 2027. His final Sunday broadcast before the break is scheduled for 29 March, after which Cocker will take over from 5 April. Iggy first became part of the 6 Music schedule in the mid‑2010s and has since become a cult favourite for his gravelly delivery, deep musical knowledge and willingness to champion both classic and underground sounds. His temporary absence will leave a noticeable gap in the lineup, but the station hopes Cocker’s arrival will soften the blow.

Cocker’s comeback marks a full-circle moment for 6 Music weekends. He originally launched his Sunday show in 2010, building a reputation for carefully curated playlists, themed episodes and a warm, intimate style that made the programme feel like a private listening party. Over time, the show became a kind of weekly ritual for many listeners, who tuned in as much for his wry commentary as for the music itself.

When he signed off in 2017 with the words “it’s not goodbye, it’s just farewell”, many listeners hoped he would one day return to the station in a regular role. His new run of Sunday shows is expected to revive that spirit while introducing fresh music discoveries and new features for a changed audience. There is also speculation that he may invite special guests, collaborators and old friends to join him, adding an extra layer of anticipation around the new series.

Alongside Cocker’s arrival on Sundays, Gossip frontwoman Beth Ditto will take over Saturday mornings, bringing her own perspective and tastes to the station’s eclectic mix. For 6 Music, enlisting figures like Iggy Pop, Jarvis Cocker and Beth Ditto shows its commitment in letting musicians themselves shape the sound and character of the network. For listeners, Cocker’s return as Sunday host promises a comforting show at the heart of their weekend routine.

Astley will be interviewd by Dermot O’Leary for the show, which will air on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer in February 2026 and will also feature his Glastonbury 2023 set on the Pyramid Stage.

Rick Astley said, “I loved doing Reel Stories with Dermot O’Leary, what a treat to be taken back to the start and come right through to today. Dermot is the perfect companion to go on that rollercoaster of emotion, love and thanks, Rick x.”

O’Leary said, “What a pleasure to spend time with Rick and hear him talk so openly about his memories from over the decades. I’ve long been a fan of his, and after recording this Reel Stories episode, have even more admiration for him as a performer and a person.”

“There’s so much more to his story than we know, a really interesting and interested person. A true gent, wise soul and real talent. I hope that viewers enjoy this extended interview as much as I did.”

Previous interviewws on the show have included Rod Stewart, Kylie Minogue, Dave Grohl, and Noel Gallagher.

Rick Astley launched his career in 1987 with his debut single ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’, which spent five weeks at No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart. The song led him to perform tours in the late-1980s around the UK, where he became a regular arena headliner. He followed this decades later with albums such as ‘50‘ in 2016 and ‘Are We There Yet?’ in 2023. He has also made headlines for collaborations with Foo Fighters and Blossoms.

After a long break, Astley returned to touring in the mid-2000s, including sold out UK theatre and arena tours, and later headlined major festivals such as Glastonbury. He has also won Best Act Ever at the MTV Europe Music Awards as well as received BRIT Award recognition for his influence and commercial success in his career.

Astley has recently announced plans for a UK tour in 2026, with Gabrielle joining him as a special guest. Remaining tickets are available here.

He is also set to perform the the Isle Of Wight Festival next year alongside the likes of headliners such as The Cure, Lewis Capaldi, and Calvin Harris. Remaining tickets for the festival are available here.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by StandWithUs Canada (@standwithuscanada)

During the controversial set at Glastonbury, frontman Bob Vylan led the crowd in chants including “death, death to the IDF“, along with slogans like “Free Palestine“ and “From the river to the sea.“ The incident sent shockwaves through political circles and drew swift condemnation. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described the chants as “appalling hate speech” and demanded an explanation from the BBC. At the same time, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy highlighted a “problem of leadership” within the corporation. The Israeli Embassy described the rhetoric as “deeply disturbing.”

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Sky News (@skynews)

For Bob Vylan, the repercussions were significant. Avon and Somerset Police launched a criminal investigation into the comments, exploring potential hate crime legislation. The band also faced professional setbacks, including the revocation of US visas and the cancellation of European shows.

The ECU determined that some of these chants could be “fairly characterised as antisemitic” when viewed in total context, particularly remarks targeting record executives described as “Zionists.” However, the ECU found no breach of the BBC’s rules on material likely to encourage or incite crime. It reasoned that the performance was not news coverage but part of a music festival broadcast, and thus subject to more tolerance for expressive content. In the immediate aftermath, the BBC removed the footage from its on-demand services, with Director-General Tim Davie expressing deep regret and Chairman Samir Shah calling it “unquestionably an error of judgment.”

The BBC has ruled that Bob Vylan’s chant of “Death, death to the IDF” and antisemitic slurs at Glastonbury broke its rules on harm and offence — but ludicrously decided that this was not incitement to violence. This absurd decision is yet another an insult to British Jews from… pic.twitter.com/Yaq6BYfipg — Campaign Against Antisemitism (@antisemitism) September 26, 2025

This ruling highlights a fundamental challenge for the BBC. While the ECU’s distinction is based on a traditional media framework, the public and political responses to the incident demonstrate that this separation is no longer tenable. In a digital environment where live streams coexist with news content, the public does not make the same genre-based distinctions. The BBC’s own reactive policy change to drop ‘high risk’ live streams is a tacit admission that its impartiality policy is in question.

The BBC’s decision to partly uphold complaints over Bob Vylan’s Glastonbury performance is more than a verdict on one band’s set. It is a signal that the space between protest art and broadcast responsibility is narrowing under public scrutiny. As artists continue to push against political and cultural boundaries, and as audiences demand both accountability and authenticity, broadcasters will face mounting pressure to rethink how they handle moments like this in the future, as they continue to operate in an increasingly polarised time.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Kate Moss Agency (@katemossagency)

The model said: “David Bowie was a very special person. Someone who was much more than a friend – he was an enigma. So, when the chance came to dive into this extraordinary five-year chapter of Bowie’s life for 6 Music and BBC Sounds, hearing from those who joined him on his creative journey and those he continues to inspire, I was excited to help share the story of such an incredible transformation. This podcast is a real celebration of my friend, a true British icon.”

Each episode will focus on Bowie and the many things that made him the artist he was such as his early performances with The Hype, his love for art and especially Andy Warhol and the legacy he left behind with iconic character Ziggy Stardust.

The podcast is partnering with The V&A museum which is launching their David Bowie Centre at their East Storehouse location in London which is “is a new working archive for the world’s largest collection dedicated to Bowie’s life and works, with free rotating displays of highlights from the collection” according to a press release.

Gossip singer Beth Ditto will join the event with her own new series Indie Forever Disco starting in November as well as having a regular spot on Nick Grimshaw’s Breakfast Show from September 1. She stated: “I’m so excited to be joining 6 Music and to get to work with Nick every week is just the cherry on top. I’ve always been a huge fan of the station, so honestly… I’m so excited, I’m speechless. Which should work out great for radio!”

The Bowie podcast, hosted by Kate Moss, will be available on BBC Sounds from 6am on Wednesday September 10 and broadcasted on Monday September 22 and will feature some unheard archived performances and interviews, including an exclusive interview from 2001 with podcast creator Des Shaw, as well as some recently unearthed audio from the BBC Archive.

The show will also include interviews of the ones closest to Bowie such as Boy George, Lou Reed, Sinéad O’Connor, Lady Gaga, Elton John, Iggy Pop, Robbie Williams and more.

The punk duo took to the stage at Worthy Farm last Saturday (June 28) in a performance broadcast live on iPlayer as part of BBC’s extensive Glastonbury coverage.

Throughout the gig they voiced their support for Palestine, whilst calling out the BBC, Israel and the US and UK governments. A message was projected onto the screen reading “Free Palestine – United Nations have called it a genocide – the BBC calls it a ‘conflict’”.

Frontman Bobby Vylan then led the crowd into chants of “free, free Palestine” and “death, death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)”.

The controversial set led to the band being dropped by their agent, United Talent Agency (UTA), as well as having their US visas revoked and their actions described by US Deputy Secretary of State, Christopher Landau, as a “hateful tirade”.

The BBC has now come out and responded to criticism labelled at the broadcasting company by politicians and media alike – most notably Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy saying that the BBC’s decision to stream the performance shows a “problem of leadership”.

Samir Shah, Chair of the BBC, shared a new statement, clarifying the action BBC will take: “This was unquestionably an error of judgement. I was very pleased to note that as soon as this came to the notice of Tim Davie (Director General of the BBC)… he took immediate action and instructed the team to withdraw the performance from on demand coverage.

“The BBC Board met on Tuesday to hear what actions will now be taken. The Executive have agreed to put in place a set of strengthened editorial practices and policies for live music programming.  These will be important measures to safeguard future live broadcasts from a failure such as this.”

Despite the criticism from both the UK and US Governments, the BBC and even the Glastonbury organisers – many artists have come out to voice their support for Bob Vylan.

Trip Hop icons and loyal activists, Massive Attack, shared a statement where they urged the media to focus on “what is happening daily to the people of Gaza” rather than on the artists speaking out.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Massive Attack (@massiveattackofficial)

Other bands to show support include Lambrini Girls, Amyl And The Sniffers and Soft Play. The latter posted on social media, saying: “Again, the media is trying to distract you from the real story. The outrage sparked is merely a smoke screen for the lack of reporting on the destruction of the Palestinian people. They are starving children, where is the media’s outrage at Israel’s continued obliteration of a whole nation?”

Despite facing cancellations from festivals including Manchester’s Radar Festival, Bob Vylan still intend to tour with dates coming up in Ireland in August. You can find tickets for their shows here.

After the iconic Canadian musician expressed his disapproval over the BBC’s involvement in Glastonbury, it’s still unclear how much, if any, of Neil Young’s headline performance on Glastonbury’s Pyramid Stage will be broadcast. Neil Young will perform with his band The Chrome Hearts on Saturday, 28 June, but his set has been excluded from BBC’s schedule for that day.

The singer’s issues with the BBC go back years. The last time he played Glastonbury, in 2009, Young and his team only allowed 5 songs to be broadcast. According to Mark Cooper, former executive producer of the BBC’s Glastonbury coverage, this decision was made to ensure the exclusivity of a live show. He says: “They believe in the live event and retaining its mystery and that of their artist.”

“You probably won’t find too many Neil Young performances available freely on TV or online. He generally prefers the audience to find his albums.”

In December of last year, Neil Young pulled out of 2025’s Glastonbury festival after learning about the extent of the BBC’s involvement. He said in a now-deleted post to his website: “The Chrome Hearts and I were looking forward to playing Glastonbury, one of my all-time favourite outdoor gigs. We were told that BBC was now a partner in Glastonbury and wanted us to do a lot of things in a way we were not interested in.”

“It seems Glastonbury is now under corporate control and is not the way I remember it being. Thanks for coming to see us the last time!”

“We will not be playing Glastonbury on this tour because it is a corporate turn-off, and not for me like it used to be. Hope to see you at one of the other venues on the tour.”

However, Neil Young reversed this decision shortly after, posting to his website: “Due to an error in the information received, I had decided to not play the Glastonbury Festival, which I always have loved.

“Happily, the festival is now back on our itinerary and we look forward to playing. Hope to see you there!”

Neil Young recently kicked off his ‘Love Earth’ world tour with The Chrome Hearts in Rättvik, Sweden, last Wednesday (18 June), and will wrap up in Los Angeles on 15 September. As well as this, he’ll play at London’s Hyde Park on 11 July.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Neil Young Archives (@neilyoungarchives)

You can find your tickets to his Hyde Park show here.

The britpop legends will record two special sets at the BBC Radio Theatre in London, with the shows being broadcast in full – along with interviews with the band – on Thursday May 29.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Pulp (@welovepulp)

‘6 Music Session: Pulp Live’ will be an intimate performance available to listen to on Nick Grimshaw’s 6 Music show (7-10am) on May 29, with ‘Radio 2 In Concert’ being performed in front of a small live audience and available that same evening on Jo Whiley’s Radio 2 show (7-9pm).

The announcement of these special concerts comes off the back of the band sharing details of their upcoming album ‘More’, which will be the Sheffield rockers first new album since 2001’s ‘We Love Life’.

Jarvis Cocker and co’s first album in 24 years will hit the shelves on Friday June 6, as they gave fans a sneak peak into their new sound with the release of the records first single, ‘Spike Island’, last week. The ‘festival-ready’ single is a synth-led indie pop tune that gives a nod to the iconic 1990 Stone Roses gig of the same name. This will be the first music the band will release since the tragic passing of their bassist Steve Mackey in 2023, with the record being dedicated to his memory.

Speaking of his excitement for the upcoming gigs, Pulp lead man Jarvis Cocker said: “We are really looking forward to this. From my time at 6 Music, I remember that the BBC Radio Theatre is a very intimate venue. As long as we can fit all our equipment in there it’s going to be great to play some songs for Radio 2 and 6 Music.”

This excitement is shared by Nick Grimshaw, who’s 6 Music show will broadcast one of the performances, with Grimshaw saying: “I’m so excited to hear more from their new album as part of their 6 Music session and to speak to the band about the process of writing and recording their first album in almost 24 years.”

Tickets will be available for the ‘Radio 2 In Concert’ show via a random draw. The performance will take place at the BBC Radio Theatre on May 7 and the ballot is available to sign up to now, running until Tuesday April 22. Head to www.bbc.co.uk/inconcert to apply now.

As well as the two special shows next month, Pulp will be touring all over UK and Europe this summer, including a homecoming gig at Sheffield’s Tramlines Festival in July.

They will also be heading on a UK arena tour throughout June with dates in Glasgow, Dublin, London, Birmingham and Manchester. Although availability is running low, you can still find any remaining tickets here.

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

  A post shared by Pulp (@welovepulp)

The buzz continues to grow around the return of the ‘Common People’, with summer 2025 shaping up to be a very exciting time for fans of britpop.

The performance was recorded for “The Lock Up”, a BBC Radio 1 music show hosted by Mike Davies, airing from 2002 to 2014. It focused on punk, hardcore, and underground rock, featuring both emerging and established artists.

My Chem have been building anticipation for their upcoming ‘Long Live The Black Parade’ tour, which will see the New Jersey rockers play their conceptual masterpiece ‘The Black Parade’ in full. The eleven dates will also host the band’s choice of hand-picked support acts, including Alice Cooper, Garbage, Pixies, Evanescence, Death Cab for Cutie, 100 Gecs, Violent Femmes, DEVO and Idles.

Gearing up for the reunion tour, which sold out within hours of it going on sale, the band have been dropping cryptic teaser videos, showing imagery such as Soviet-esque soldiers stepping out to a roaring crowd. Their latest teaser video shows a dog being fed a banquet by the same soldiers at a table of five chairs – fans have been hopefully speculating that this could represent a fifth album.

The video’s caption reads: “The Black Parade North American Tour production is set. Additional tickets available April 4 @ 10AM PST/1PM EST. Link in bio.”

Recently, guitarist Frank Iero was asked by Kerrang about the possibility of the tour hitting British venues in the future. He shared his love for their UK fanbase, while keeping his lips sealed as to whether the tour would reach here from across the pond.

“It’s been long-documented that we are huge fans of the UK – this is a home away from home for us. We’ve done things where the first place we played for a record release was the UK. It’s always felt like a place that we love and that we hold very dear. But, to tell the future? It would be remiss to do that.”

While the band have enjoyed continued support from their loyal fanbase and a lasting legacy since their official disbandment in 2013, it hasn’t come without its hardships. Last November saw the passing of former drummer Bob Bryar, a member of the band from 2004-2010. The musician was found dead in his Tennessee home aged 44.

Upon the tragic death of their old bandmate, the band released a statement offering their commiserations to his loved ones and honouring his part in the groups history: “It is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to Bob Bryar, our former bandmate and an important part of the history of My Chemical Romance. We send our deepest condolences to his friends and family at this time. May he rest in peace”

The dates for the upcoming My Chemical Romance 2025 tour dates are as follows –

My Chemical Romance 2025 tour dates

July

11 Seattle, WA – T-Mobile Park
19 San Francisco, CA – Oracle Park
26 Los Angeles, CA – Dodger Stadium
27 Los Angeles, CA – Dodger Stadium

August

2 Arlington, TX – Globe Life Field
9 East Rutherford, NJ – MetLife Stadium
15 Philadelphia, PA – Citizens Bank Park
22 Toronto, ON – Rogers Centre
29 Chicago, IL – Soldier Field

September

7 Boston, MA – Fenway Park
13 Tampa, FL – Raymond James Stadium
20 Atlanta, GA – Shaky Knees Festival

The new film will hit our screens in May, with a specific date yet to be released, and will feature interviews from Springsteen himself, as well as friends such as Sting, Peter Gabriel and E Street Band member (and Tony Sopranos right hand man) Stevie Van Zandt.

As well as the documentary, BBC Two and BBC iPlayer will host a new episode of Bruce Springsteen at the BBC, featuring a compilation of performances from across TV shows including Top of the Pops.

The one-hour long documentary will tell the story of a 26-year-old Bruce Springsteen arriving in the UK for the first time in November 1975 for a sold out performance at the Hammersmith Odeon.

The Born To Run singer was being billed as the new Bob Dylan by his record company, but as Springsteen reveals in the film, it didn’t go completely to plan.

In the new interview, Springsteen reveals the “PTSD” he suffered from his first show on British soil, saying: “After the show I went to a party that was supposed to celebrate my triumph, but I felt I’d been terrible and so I was embarrassed to even go in.

“I went in for a few minutes, couldn’t stand myself being there, went out, ran back to the hotel, sat in my lonely room under a big black cloud, ate whatever I had and went to bed… I had PTSD from the first Hammersmith show!”

The American musician made up for the self-proclaimed disaster just a week later with a second concert at the same venue.

The film will feature archival footage from the 1970s to the 2020s and will be brought up to date by covering Springsteen’s triumphant 2024 UK tour.

Rachel Davies, Commissioning Editor of BBC Music Television, shared her excitement of the announcement, saying: “Bruce Springsteen is not only a global music icon, but he’s an honorary Brit here in the UK – he’s become one of our own!

“We know BBC viewers will love watching this film, which lifts the lid on his early visits to the UK with a world exclusive new interview, as well as some great insight from those that have been hugely impacted by him and his music.”

Springsteen’s success in the UK cannot be contested, as he has had 11 number one studio albums, being the only artist to ever achieve this feat over five consecutive decades.

The film has been produced by Wise Owl Films, know for their work on When X Came To Britain (Nirvana, Bob Marley, Blondie etc) and The Hacienda: The Club That Shook Britain.

Mark Robinson of Wise Owl Films said: “This documentary chronicles a truly special relationship between an iconic American artist and the UK – and one who seems to inspire an unrivalled loyalty and passion from his fans.”

Springsteen fans are full of excitement currently, as it was just announced last week that he will be releasing seven completed, unheard albums as part of a box set titled Tracks II:The Lost Albums.

Keep an eye on the BBC to keep up to date with their night of celebrating ‘The Boss’, as they will soon be announcing the specific date when you can catch the new film.

Springsteen will return to the UK this summer, doing three dates in May at Coop Live Arena in Manchester followed by two massive shows at Anfield Stadium in Liverpool in June. Find tickets for these dates here.