Chris Evans tops BBC pay list as salary gap between male and female stars revealed

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

Only one third of the list of talent 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.

10 highest-paid BBC stars and journalists https://t.co/OCu1u7WiIf #bbcpay pic.twitter.com/G5DtVN8vrB

— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) July 19, 2017

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.”

Casualty’s Derek Thompson revealed as the highest paid BBC drama and comedy actor

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.

The list reveals that newsreader and Antiques Roadshow presenter Fiona Bruce earns between £350,000 and £399,000 but fellow news host Huw Edwards is on £550,000 to £599,999.

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.

In sport, Match Of The Day host Gary Lineker is paid in the £1,750,000 to £1,799,999 bracket. He had earlier revealed that he had turned down higher pay offers from commercial broadcasters.

Happy BBC salary day. I blame my agent and the other TV channels that pay more. Now where did I put my tin helmet?

— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) July 19, 2017

Writing on Twitter, the former England striker said he had stuck with the Beeb “Because I love and value my job and BBC sport.”

But Wimbledon’s Sue Barker earns between £300,000 and £349,999, behind Alan Shearer (£400,000 and £449,999).

Clare Balding is paid between £150,000 to £199,999, putting her in the same list as Jonathan Agnew, Jonathan Davies and John McEnroe.

Why does the govt actively seek to damage the BBC, one of the few things the world admires about the UK at present, with this pointlessness?

— John Simpson (@JohnSimpsonNews) July 18, 2017

Ofcom poll last week showed many more people satisfied with BBC's programmes than those of ITV, Ch4 & Sky. Didn't see that in anti-BBC press

— John Simpson (@JohnSimpsonNews) July 18, 2017

Presenters John Inverdale and Gabby Logan are on between £200,000 and £249,000.

Radio 2 Breakfast DJ and former Top Gear host Evans earns between £2.2 million and £2,249,999.

Graham Norton is listed as between £850,000 and £899,999 – but as the list only includes cash from licence fee payers, that does not include his chat show, for which the BBC pays an independent production company, which in turn pays his salary.

Strictly Come Dancing host and Radio 2 DJ Claudia Winkleman earns between £450,000 and £499,000.