His dismissal relates to the same individual. A source close to the broadcaster claimed it acted "quickly and decisively" last week after a complaint was lodged.

A source told the Sun newspaper: "An allegation was made against Scott last Tuesday, and he was called in for a meeting. He was taken off the air from Radio 2 the following day, and his contract was terminated over the weekend. It was a very fast process between the complaint being raised and Scott leaving. It happened in less than five days", reports Birmingham Live.

A source close to Mills said: "Scott was told about the allegation in a meeting with senior staff present. He was tense. He has completely shut down now and no one can get hold of him. No calls, no messages - nothing. The people who know him are blindsided by all of this."

A source said: "Scott was taken off air on Wednesday. He clearly had no idea it was coming as at the end of his show on Tuesday, he told Vernon Kay, who hosts the next slot, 'See you tomorrow.'

"When he wasn't at work the next day, people working at Radio 2 and other stations were led to believe he was having time off for personal reasons.

"Now it's come out, everyone who works at Radio 2, and in the wider BBC, are in utter shock." They continued: "The BBC did not issue a company-wide press release and just shared the news with the radio staff. People who worked for the BBC outside of the radio service were reading about Scott on news websites.

"The shock around Broadcasting House in London was palpable."

Lorna Clarke, the director of music at the BBC, said in a statement to staff: "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."