Scott Mills and Chris Stark: why DJs are leaving Radio 1, where are they going, how old are they - and salary

Scott Mills has hung up his microphone and headphones at BBC Radio 1.

The long-serving DJ who hosts The Official Chart show and an afternoon slot on Radio 1 will be joining Radio 2 to present a new show on weekdays from 2-4pm.

The 49-year-old DJ, who has hosted various shows on the radio station since 1998, will move to BBC Radio 2 where he will take over the 2-4pm slot from presenter Steve Wright.

Mills has bid farewell to the station alongside his co-host Chris Stark, who is leaving to focus on presenting That Peter Crouch Podcast and his podcast with Chef Tom Kerridge The Pirate Ship.

What has Scott Mills said?

Mills, who will step into the afternoon slot currently held by Wright, has been a radio presenter since the age of 16 – at which time he presented a show on his local Southampton radio station Power FM.

After joining the BBC in 1998, Mills presented the BBC Radio 1 breakfast show until 2004 after which he moved to a weekend afternoon slot for six months.

He currently presents the Scott Mills show on Radio 1 between 1pm and 4pm, along with co-presenter Stark, as well as The Official Chart Show on a Friday since 2018.

Speaking about the move, Mills said: “Time actually does fly when you’re having fun, and that’s certainly been the case over the past 24 years at my beloved Radio 1. The station I pretended to be on in my bedroom from the age of six. The station I told my mum I wanted to work at, but never in a million years thought I would.

“There are too many people to thank from my Radio 1 journey. So to the immensely talented people I’ve worked with along the way, to our incredible listeners that have made us part of their everyday lives for so long and of course to Chris – not just my co-host, but one of my best friends in the world, which of course he will be forever. Thank you.

He added: ““I really cannot believe I’m going to be calling Radio 2 my new home! I’m beyond excited to be joining the team and working alongside my radio idols and friends at the legendary Wogan House.

“I would like to wish all the best to Steve, who is one of the finest broadcasters in the world and someone whom I look up to so much.”

In his final broadcast today (25 August), he said:

Stark, 35, joined Mills as a co-presenter on the show in 2012 and the pair became popular thanks to a number of humorous segments including Innuendo Bingo.

Mills and Stark roped in Lewis Capaldi to announce the news to their social media followers.

Nick Grimshaw, who said farewell to Radio 1 last summer after 14 years with the BBC, described Mills and Stark as “true Radio 1 legends” following the news.

He wrote on Twitter: “Huge fan of these two. Absolutely top tier at what they do and I would nearly run to work to get to see them in real life each day.

“True Radio 1 legends and just the best guys. Love you @scott_mills & @Chris_Stark thank you for all the lols. “

Why is Chris Stark leaving?

After a decade on the show, Stark is also leaving.

Like Mills, the 35-year-old fancied a change and is off to join Roman Kemp on the Capital Breakfast show.

In his new job, he will not only be a presenter, but a creative executive producer as well.

Stark is also set to take up a new role in Global’s podcast division developing sport content for Global Player, Global’s digital radio and podcast listening service.

He said: “I couldn’t be more excited to be joining Global, working across a variety of amazing projects. I’ve known Roman a long time and often joked over a beer it’d be great to work together on something big one day – and now here we are.”

He added: “I cannot wait to get started on Capital Breakfast and in my new creative executive producer role. Let’s make some moments.

“And then to be asked to lead on Global Player’s sport podcast content is just the icing on the cake.”

What did Steve Wright say?

Wright announced he would be stepping down from his afternoon show at the end of September after 23 years as part of the station’s schedule shake-up.

The 67-year-old broadcaster shared the news live during his show, Steve Wright in the Afternoon, on Friday saying: “I can’t hold the slot forever, so let’s give somebody else a go.”

Towards the end of the programme, he said: “I’ll try not to become emotional or self-indulgent, this is going to be a little bit difficult.

“At the end of September, I’ll be taking a break from daytime radio. In other words, stepping down from this programme.

“At the beginning of this year, my friend and boss Helen Thomas, head of Radio 2, said she wanted to do something different in the afternoons.

“I’ve been doing this programme for 24 years at Radio 2, and so how can I possibly complain? The support and creative freedom as I’m given is fantastic at Radio 2, and really I can’t hold the slot forever. So let’s give somebody else ago.”

He has presented Steve Wright in the Afternoon on the Radio 2 slot since 1999 and also presents Steve Wright’s Sunday Love Songs on the network.