BBC's Top Earners: Lineker Leads, Edwards' Salary Rises
The BBC's annual report has revealed the salaries of its top-earning stars, with Gary Lineker topping the list for the seventh consecutive year. Huw Edwards, who resigned from the BBC on medical advice in April after allegations of inappropriate payments, saw his salary increase by £40,000 in the last financial year.
Edwards was suspended in July 2023 following allegations made in The Sun newspaper that he paid a young person for sexually explicit photos. While police found no evidence of criminal wrongdoing, the allegations led to a significant public and internal investigation. Edwards remained on the payroll while suspended, as per BBC policy.
His salary increased from between £435,000 and £439,999 in 2022/2023 to £475,000 - £479,999 in the last financial year. He was also the corporation's highest-paid newsreader last year. The BBC has confirmed that Edwards received no payout upon his resignation.
The BBC's Director General, Tim Davie, defended the corporation's handling of Edwards' salary, stating that it was "proportionate and fair". He emphasized that, despite budgetary constraints, the BBC needs to act responsibly and ethically in such situations.
Lineker's earnings remained high at £1,350,000 - £1,354,999, making him the BBC's highest-paid presenter for the seventh year running. His earnings reflect his prominent roles in presenting "Match of the Day", the FA Cup final and "Sports Personality of the Year".
Zoe Ball, presenter of BBC Radio 2's breakfast show, came in second with £950,000 to £954,999, a slight decrease from last year.
The annual report highlights a significant difference between the salaries of the top earners and those of many other BBC presenters and journalists, whose salaries are not publicly disclosed. Many of these salaries are not included in the public report as they are paid through BBC Studios, the corporation's commercial arm, or via independent production companies.
Other notable figures on the BBC's top earners list include:
Greg James (BBC Radio 1): £415,000 - £419,999, up £20,000 on last year.
Steven Nolan (BBC Radio): £405,000 - £409,999.
Fiona Bruce (BBC One's Question Time): £405,000 - £409,999.
Lauren Laverne (BBC 6 Music): £395,000 - £399,999.
Alan Shearer (BBC Football Presenter): £380,000 - £384,999, down £65,000 on last year.
Naga Munchetty (BBC Breakfast and 5 Live): £345,000 - £349,000.
Nick Robinson (BBC Today): £345,000 - £349,000, up £70,000 on last year.
It is important to note that the BBC is currently facing a challenging financial environment with declining licence fee revenue. The annual report mentions a drop in the number of households paying the licence fee and a decrease in overall reach across different platforms. In response, the BBC has implemented significant cost-cutting measures, leading to the loss of 2,000 roles in the past five years. The corporation plans to further reduce its workforce by 500 roles by March 2026.
