The former X Factor star has yet to comment publicly on his friend's ignominious exit from the broadcaster, but a source has claimed he is finding it "rough" since the news broke.

"Rylan and Scott are so close," said the source. "They have done a lot of work together, but see a lot of each other socially, too.

"They always had each other's backs. This will be rough for Rylan," the source told the Daily Mail, claiming the presenter is "devastated".

Express.co.uk has contacted representatives for Clark for comment.

Mills was abruptly sacked from his BBC Radio 2 show after allegations were made in relation to his "personal misconduct".

It was later revealed that his departure was related to a police probe in 2018, when Mills was investigated and questioned under caution over "serious sexual offences against a teenage boy".

The BBC were made aware of the investigation in 2017, but after obtaining "new information relating to Scott", bosses acted "decisively" and terminated his contract.

During a company-wide call, Mr Davie said: "We're trying to act fairly. It was new information quite recently that we received that made it very clear about the decision we had to make."