On Tuesday, July 15, the BBC will publish a report listing the salaries of its stars and executives. But the salaries of some of the broadcaster’s most famous names won’t be included.
In 2024, Match of the Day host Gary Lineker topped the list for the seventh year in the row, with a salary between £1,350,000 and £1,354,999. Next up was Radio 2 Breakfast Zoe Ball, who made £950,000.
Neither Lineker or Ball are currently working heading these programs. Ball left the Breakfast show in December following a diagnosed with bursitis, a condition that causes swelling and pain around the joints, and Lineker stood down after reposting a social media post that some considered antisemitic.
What determines which BBC employees are included on the salary list?
Why are some names missing from the list?
The BBC publishes the names of employees who earn above a certain threshold, which is currently set at a £178,000 salary.
However, not everyone working for the BBC is employed by the broadcaster directly. Many employees are contracted via production companies, including BBC Studios, and are not included on the salaries list.
Another factor is that not all BBC shows are solely funded by it. For example, Industry is a co-production with HBO and the most recent series of Doctor Who was in part funded by Disney+. The salaries of stars associated with these shows may not be funded exclusively from the licence fee money.
Which big names are missing?
Here’s some of the big names that won’t appear on the BBC’s salary list this year:
Ryan Clark
Former X Factor contestant Rylan Clark is not on the salary list, despite hosting a weekly Radio 2 show, covering the Eurovision Song Contest, co-hosting the Italian travel series Rob and Rylan’s Grand Tour, and participating in one-off interview specials with Cher and Mariah Carey.
Stacey Solomon
Stacey Solomon, who came third in the X Factor in 2009, does not make an appearance on the salary list, despite fronting Sort Your Life Out and featuring on the reality TV show, Stacey & Joe. The show follows the life of Solomon and her husband Joe Swash.
Rob Brydon
The actor and comedian Rob Brydon will also be missing from the list. Brydon hosts the comedy panel show Would I Lie To You?, appeared on Gavin & Stacey’s Christmas special and is heading the upcoming reality show, Destination X.
David Mitchell
David Mitchell is another actor and comedian whose salary won’t be disclosed on the list. This is despite appearing on the comedy panel show Would I Lie to You? and starring in the drama Ludwig.
Alan Carr
Presenter and comedian Alan Carr also won’t appear on the list. Carr currently hosts Interior Design Masters.
Dannii Minogue
Singer Dannii Minogue, host of the UK’s first gay dating shows I Kissed a Boy and I Kissed a Girl, will also be absent from the salary list.
