Evans and Lineker top BBC earners, one third of £150k+ earners women

The BBC has revealed its top talent pay – with DJ Chris Evans topping the list pocketing over £2 million.

The report reveals only one third of the staff earning over £150,000 are women, with the top names being men. Details of stars’ pay was revealed in £50,000 bands.

And there could be embarrassment for the presenters of flagship Radio 4 programme, Today.

John Humphrys earns between £600,000 and £649,000, for the morning news programme and other work, including presenting Mastermind.

Nick Robinson is on £250,000 to £299,000, ahead of female presenter Mishal Husain (£200,000 to £249,000), who also presents TV news for the corporation, but their colleague Sarah Montague does not make the £150,000 pay bracket.

Lord Hall told Radio 4’s Today programme that the BBC had reduced its spending on top talent by 25% in the past four years and 10% since last year, when 109 people took home a total of £31 million.

“I completely understand that to lots and lots of people these are very large sums, but we are a global broadcaster in a very competitive market and we have to be competitive – but not foolishly.

“No-one would want us to be paying sums where it’s not at a discount on the market. People expect us to have great broadcasters, great presenters, great stars, but pay them less than they would get on the market. Getting that discount right is very important.”

Lord Hall described the publication of top salaries, which was opposed by the BBC, as a “bad idea” because it could tempt other broadcasters with deep pockets to poach stars creating an inflationary effect on pay.

Here’s the list of the top earners in BBC:
1. Chris Evans £2.2m – £2.25m
2. Gary Lineker £1.75m – £1.8m
3. Graham Norton £850,0000 – £899,999
4. Jeremy Vine £700,000 – £749,999
5. John Humphrys £600,000 – £649,999
6. Huw Edwards £550,000 – £599,999
7. Steve Wright £500,000 – £549,999
8. Claudia Winkleman, Matt Baker £450,000 – £499,999
9. Alan Shearer and Alex Jones, Stephen Nolan, Nicky Campbell £400,000 – £449,999
10. Fiona Bruce £350,000 – £399,999

The BBC’s political editor Laura Kuenssberg is on £200,000 to £249,000, below news presenter George Alagiah (£250,000-£299,000) and Radio 4’s PM host Eddie Mair (£300,000 – £349,000).

News host Sophie Raworth is on £150,000 to £199,000.

BBC Breakfast presenter Naga Munchetty is in the £150,000 to £199,999 bracket, and her colleague on the show Dan Walker, who also works on Football Focus and fronted slots from the Rio Olympics, took home between £200,000 and £249,000.

Their fellow BBC Breakfast presenters Louise Minchin and Charlie Stayt do not make the £150,000 bracket.