November 21st 2024.
The BBC rich list has recently undergone a major shakeup, causing quite a buzz in the broadcasting world. With the departure of some of the network's biggest names, the list has been reshuffled and the top earner may come as a surprise to many.
It all started with the news of Zoe Ball's decision to step down from her role as the host of BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show. After six successful years, Ball announced that she wanted to focus on her family. At the time of her departure, she was ranked second on the rich list with an annual salary of £954,999. Her replacement, her close friend Scott Mills, will reportedly be earning significantly less than her, with a salary of £319,999, putting him in the tenth spot on the list.
In the same week, another big name, Gary Lineker, also announced his departure from the BBC. The former England player has been the highest-paid star at the BBC for the past seven years. He will be leaving his role as the host of Match of the Day at the end of the Premier League season in May. Despite taking a voluntary pay cut of £350,000 to continue his role, Lineker's annual salary of £1,300,000 to £1,354,999 made him the top earner on the list.
But Lineker wasn't the only high-profile departure. Former newsreader Huw Edwards, known for his iconic coverage of the death of Queen Elizabeth II, will not be returning to screens after pleading guilty to three counts of making indecent images of children. In September, the 63-year-old received a suspended jail sentence and was placed on the sex offenders' register. Prior to the scandal, Edwards was one of the highest-paid BBC talents, with a salary of £439,999, which had even increased to £479,999 in the year ending April 2024.
With the exits of these top earners, there is now a possibility of a new face taking the top spot on the rich list. Greg James, the host of BBC Radio 1's Breakfast Show, has seen a significant rise in his salary, putting him in fourth place on the list with an annual income of £419,999. James has been a favorite among listeners since he took over the show in 2018 and has also been a co-host on the BBC's cricket podcast.
Behind James, in joint fifth place, are BBC News presenter Fiona Bruce and Radio 5 Live host Stephen Nolan, both earning up to £409,999. BBC Radio 4's Today program presenter Nick Robinson and BBC Breakfast host Naga Munchetty are also in the top ten, with annual salaries of £349,999.
The latest figures from the BBC's annual salary report show that the majority of stars received pay rises between 2023 and 2024. One of the largest increases went to BBC News presenter Reeta Chakrabarti, who now earns £274,999.
According to insider sources, Ball's departure was seen as an opportunity to reassess salaries. It is believed that the BBC is moving away from the days of mega six-figure and even seven-figure salaries. This is evident in the fact that Mills, Ball's replacement, will be earning significantly less than her.
The BBC is reportedly pleased with the new salaries, as it will save them a significant amount of money. They are also happy that the next time they release their list of top earners, it will not look as excessive as it has in the past. Some of the big names that will be absent from the list include Lineker, Ball, and Edwards, who would have been the highest-paid BBC talent if not for their departures.
It's clear that the BBC is making changes to their salary structure, and it will be interesting to see how this will affect the list in the future. As for now, the top earners at the BBC include Gary Lineker, Zoe Ball, Huw Edwards, Greg James, Fiona Bruce, Stephen Nolan, Lauren Laverne, Alan Shearer, Nick Robinson, and Naga Munchetty.
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