The BBC has released a comprehensive list containing the salaries of all journalists, presenters and actors who earn £150,000 or more.
Before the disclosure and any possible backlash, the director general, Tony Hall, told staff in an internal briefing that the overall amount the corporation pays its on-air talent fell from £198m a year to £194m over the past 12 months.
But the list is likely to fuel claims of “talent-idolising” at the corporation, as well as raising eyebrows over stark contrasts between the pay of men and women. The top three earners are Chris Evans, Gary Lineker and Graham Norton, who earn more than £2.2m, £1.75m and £850,000 respectively. Only a third of the 96 top earners are female and the top seven are all male.
A searchable list of the BBC’s on-air talent earning more than £150,000 is below.
