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BBC reveals salaries of top stars as it bids to end gender pay gap controversy

Watch: These are the BBC’s top earners

The BBC has revealed a list of its top earning stars as it seeks to address its gender pay gap controversy.

The broadcaster has been under pressure in recent years over the disparity between between its top earning male and female talent.

Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker was once again the BBC’s top earner, according to new figures, but he is taking a pay cut.

Lineker took £1.75 million, according to the figures, which cover the period until the end of March this year.

File photo dated 01-05-2018 of Gary Lineker.
Gary Lineker was the highest earner for the second year running. (PA)
Zoe Ball outside Wogan House in London after her first morning hosting the BBC 2 Breakfast Show.
Zoe Ball was the highest paid woman on the list. (PA)
EMBARGOED TO 0001 MONDAY SEPTEMBER 07 File photo dated 19/09/19 of Lauren Laverne, who presented last year's Mercury Prize award. The winner of this year's Mercury Prize will be announced live on The One Show instead of at the usual ceremony.
Desert Island Discs host Lauren Laverne made the top 10 for the first time. (PA)

The BBC also announced on Tuesday Lineker had signed a new five-year deal which would see him take a 23 per cent pay cut, affecting his salary from nexy year onwards.

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.

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 and election night presenter Huw Edwards is on more than £465,000.

Watch: Former England footballer Gary Lineker is set to welcome a refugee to live in his home with him

Fiona Bruce takes home over £450,000 for her work on Question Time while BBC Radio London’s Vanessa Feltz is on about £405,000.

Desert Island Discs host Lauren Laverne made the top 10 for the first time, with more than £395,000.

The BBC previously opposed the publication of salaries as a "poacher's charter" but then-boss Lord Hall later said he welcomed the "transparency".

Read more: BBC Gender Pay Row Rumbles On After Ex-China Editor Slams “Insulting” Pay Rise Offer

The salaries are being published amid questions about how the BBC will be funded in future.

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 corporation has been under pressure over its gender pay gap. (PA)
The corporation has been under pressure over its gender pay gap. (PA)

The BBC began means-testing the free TV licence for over-75s in August, having previously delayed its introduction because of the pandemic.

New director-general Tim Davie is also expected to announce a clampdown on unnecessary bureaucracy and confirm that stars will be asked to publish a list of their outside engagements.

Davie will say the number of workers in the corporation's public service arm must drop over the next 12 months, according to The Daily Telegraph, and senior members of staff will be included in the cull.

The list of the top 10 BBC earners is as follows;

  • 1. Gary Lineker - £1,750,000-£1,754,999

  • 2. Zoe Ball - £1,360,000-£1,364,999

  • 3. Graham Norton - £725,000-£729,000

  • 4. Steve Wright - £475,000-£479,999

  • 5. Huw Edwards - £465,000-£469,999

  • 6. Fiona Bruce - £450,000-£454,999

  • 7. Vanessa Feltz - £405,000-£409,999

  • 8. Lauren Laverne - £395,000-£399,999

  • =9. Alan Shearer - £390,000-£394,999

  • =9. Stephen Nolan - £390,000-£394,999

  • 10. Ken Bruce - £385,000-£389,999