Channel 4 has pulled the final episode of The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up to Cancer after it emerged that it featured recently sacked BBC presenter Scott Mills, who was fired following historic allegations of serious sexual offences.

The episode, which also starred singer Rag’n’Bone Man, broadcaster Edith Bowman and JLS member Aston Merrygold, had been due to air on Sunday 18 April. Channel 4 has confirmed it will be replaced with an alternative episode.

Why was Mills sacked from the BBC?

Mills was fired from the BBC approximately 10 days ago after new information emerged regarding historic allegations of serious sexual offences against a teenage boy. Police had questioned him about the allegations — said to relate to incidents between 1997 and 2000, when the alleged victim was under 16 — back in 2018, and the BBC was aware at the time. He has not been charged with any offence.

In the wake of his sacking, Mills was also abruptly pulled from his role at major boyband concerts he had been scheduled to host.

Channel 4’s statement

In a statement, Channel 4 said: “Having carefully considered the circumstances, we’ve taken the decision not to air the final episode of the 2026 series of The Great Celebrity Bake Off for Stand Up to Cancer, featuring Scott Mills. We recognise the seriousness of the accusations that have been made against Scott and feel it’s not appropriate to air this episode at this time.”

What about his co-stars?

It’s a frustrating situation for the other celebrities involved. Rag’n’Bone Man, Edith Bowman and Aston Merrygold all filmed the episode in good faith, and their baking efforts won’t be seen — at least not yet. There’s been no word from Channel 4 on whether the episode could air at a later date, or whether the footage will be held indefinitely.

The cancellation is the latest in a string of television programmes scrambling to edit out or sideline figures caught up in serious allegations — a pattern that raises increasingly difficult questions about how broadcasters handle content featuring individuals under investigation. For now, one thing is certain: the tent is closed on this one.