The pay salaries of top BBC stars between 2019 and 2020 have been revealed by the corporation.
We've put together everything you need to know.
Who is the BBC's top earner?
Gary Lineker was once again the BBC’s top earner, according to new figures, but he is taking a pay cut.
An announcement on Tuesday said the Match Of The Day host is reducing his salary.
The names of BBC talent earning more than £150,000 a year have been published, a move previously instigated by the Government.
Lineker took £1.75 million, according to the figures, which cover the period until the end of March this year – before any cut.
BBC Radio 2 breakfast show DJ Zoe Ball shoots up the list – on £1.36 million, making her the highest-paid woman in the top 10.
The salary does not include her presenting work for Strictly Come Dancing’s It Takes Two.
Pay packets made through BBC Studios, the broadcaster’s commercial arm and responsible for the likes of Strictly Come Dancing, Antiques Roadshow and Doctor Who, are not disclosed.
Graham Norton takes about £725,000 for his Radio 2 show and some TV work, but not his chat show.
Radio 2 DJ Steve Wright is on about £475,000.
Newsreader and election night presenter Huw Edwards is on more than £465,000.
Fiona Bruce takes home over £450,000 for her work on Question Time.
BBC Radio London’s Vanessa Feltz is on about £405,000.
Desert Island Discs host Lauren Laverne makes the top 10 for the first time, with more than £395,000.
Broadcaster Stephen Nolan is on over £390,000 for his radio work, including 5 Live. Meanwhile, Match Of The Day’s Alan Shearer is on the same figure.
Laverne took over from Kirsty Young on the Radio 4 programme, while Bruce followed in the footsteps of David Dimbleby.
The BBC previously opposed the publication of salaries as a “poacher’s charter”, but then-boss Lord Hall later said he welcomed the “transparency”.
The salaries are being published amid questions about how the BBC will be funded in future.
FULL LIST: Here's how much the BBC's top stars were paid between 2019 and 2020
Here's a list of those earning above £300,000 the BBC in 2019-2020, according to the annual report:
- Gary Lineker - £1,750,000-£1,754,999
Match of the Day, Premier League and FA Cup, Sports Personality of the Year
2018/2019 figure: £1,750,000-£1,754,999
- Zoe Ball - £1,360,000-£1,364,999
Radio 2's Zoe Ball Breakfast Show
2018/2019: £370,000-£374,999
- Graham Norton - £725,000-£729,000
Weekly show on Radio 2, a range of programmes and series, Bafta film and TV awards
2018/2019: £610,000-£614,999
- Steve Wright - £475,000-£479,999
Radio 2's Steve Wright in the Afternoon, Steve Wright's Sunday Love Songs
2018/2019: £465,000-£469,999
Huw Edwards - £465,000-£469,999
News at Six and News at Ten, presenting on BBC One and the News Channel, election night and news specials
2018/2019: £490,000-£494,999
- Fiona Bruce - £450,000-£454,999
Question Time and presenting on BBC One
2018/2019: £255,000-£259,999
- Vanessa Feltz - £405,000-£409,999
Radio 2 early Breakfast Show, Radio London Breakfast Show, Radio 2 cover
2018/2019: £355,000-£359,999
- Lauren Laverne - £395,000 - £399,999
BBC 6 Music Breakfast Show, 6 Music Recommends, Radio 4's Desert Island Discs, Mercury Music Prize
2018/2019: £305,000-£309,999
- Alan Shearer - £390,000-£394,999
Match of the Day: Premier League and FA Cup
2018/2019: £440,000-£444,999
- Stephen Nolan - £390,000-£394,999
The Nolan Show on Radio Ulster, Nolan Live on BBC One (Northern Ireland), The Stephen Nolan Show on 5 Live
2018/2019: £325,000-£329,999
- Ken Bruce - £385,000-£389,999
Radio 2's Mid Morning Show, Eurovision Song Contest, Radio 2 Live in Hyde Park
2018/2019: £280,000-£284,999
- Emily Maitlis - £370,000-£374,999
Newsnight, BBC documentaries and election programme
2018/2019: £260,000-£264,999
- Claudia Winkleman - £365,000-£369,999
Weekly show for Radio 2, a range of programmes and series
2018/2019: £370,000-£374,999
- Andrew Marr - £360,000-£364,999
The Andrew Marr Show, Radio 4's Start the Week, Documentaries for BBC One and election night
2018/2019: £390,000-£394,999
- Scott Mills - £345,000-£349,999
Radio 1's The Scott Mills Show, Radio 5's The Scott Mills and Chris Stark Show
2018/2019: £285,000-£289,999
- George Alagiah - £325,000-£329,999
News at Six and News at Ten
2018/2019: £315,000-£319,999
- Jeremy Vine - £320,000-£324,999
Daily show on Radio 2, election programme
2018/2019: £290,000-£294,999
- Nicky Campbell - £300,000-£304,999
Radio 5 Live Breakfast Show, Your Call
2018/2019: £340,000-£345,999
When will the licence fee model be reviewed?
The licence fee model is guaranteed until December 31 2027, the end of the current charter.
Decriminalisation of licence fee evasion could also be on the cards – but the BBC has warned that switching to a civil system would cost the broadcaster more than £200 million a year.
The BBC began means-testing the free TV licence for over-75s in August, having previously delayed its introduction because of the pandemic.
What has the BBC director-general said about Gary Lineker's new contract?
BBC director-general Tim Davie said Lineker has signed a new five-year contract with the BBC, but that he will take a 23 per cent pay cut.
“And he has done so at a saving of nearly a quarter over his last contract,” he said.
“We are hugely honoured to have a broadcaster of such brilliance at the BBC.
“And this is a great example of giving audiences both the best talent and the best value.”
Lineker said: “I love working with the BBC, and am very proud to continue to be a part of their outstanding football team. I’m looking forward to the next five years – with a European Championship and World Cup on the horizon, it’s exciting times for me and the team.”
Following the announcement, he also tweeted: “Oh dear. Thoughts are with the haters at this difficult time.”
The BBC is clamping down on presenters’ use of social media.
Davie added: “Gary knows that he has responsibilities to the BBC in terms of his use of social media.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article