
BBC's top 10 highest earners revealed. See the full list
FORMER Match Of The Day presenter Gary Lineker has topped the list of the BBC 's highest-earning on-air talent for the eighth consecutive year and the final time.
Radio presenter Zoe Ball was the second highest-paid, earning between £515,000 and £519,999, for her work on the Radio 2 Breakfast Show, which she left on December 20 last year.
READ NEXT: TRNSMT act admits wardrobe malfunction on stage - but gie' it laldy for fans
READ NEXT: Singer who performs with music legend does solo show at TRNSMT
Ball has since returned to a new Saturday afternoon show on the station, which she began hosting in May 2025.
Match Of The Day pundit Alan Shearer was the third-highest earner with a salary of between £440,000 and £444,999.
Shearer will continue to analyse football on the BBC in the new season with Match Of The Day's incoming presenters Kelly Cates, Mark Chapman, and Gabby Logan.
His pay also covered work on the BBC's coverage of European football competitions, such as the Uefa Champions League.
The 10 ten BBC highest earners
Gary Lineker: Between £1,350,000 and £1,354,999 Zoe Ball: Between £515,000 and £519,999 Alan Shearer: Between £440,000 and £444,999 Greg James: Between £425,000 and £429,999 Fiona Bruce: Between £410,000 and £414,999 Nick Robinson: Between £410,000 and £414,999 Stephen Nolan: Between £405,000 and £409,999 Laura Kuenssberg: Between £395,000 and £399,999 Vernon Kay: Between £390,000 and £394,999 Justin Webb: Between £365,000 and £369,999.
BBC Radio 1 Breakfast Show presenter Greg James came fourth on the list for work which also included his Radio 4 show Rewinder, while Fiona Bruce and Nick Robinson were the joint fifth-highest earners.
Bruce's pay covered her work on Question Time and other presenting work on BBC One and coverage of the UK General Election, while Robinson's included his presenting work, Political Thinking and Today podcasts, and his work covering the UK General Election.
The publication of salaries comes after former England striker Lineker left his presenting role earlier than planned following a social media row after he shared a post about Zionism which featured a depiction of a rat, historically an antisemitic insult.
Lineker issued an unreserved apology for the incident, and will no longer front the BBC's coverage of the 2026 World Cup or the FA Cup next season.
The rest of the top 10 was made up of BBC Radio 5 Live presenter Stephen Nolan, who earned between £405,000 and £409,999, TV presenter Laura Kuenssberg, who earned between £395,000 and £399,999, BBC Radio 2 presenter Vernon Kay, who earned between £390,000 and £394,999, and journalist Justin Webb, who earned between £365,000 and £369,999.
The annual report and salary reveal comes as the BBC has made headlines over its coverage of the Glastonbury Festival, the Gaza: How To Survive A Warzone documentary, and a report into Gregg Wallace's behaviour on MasterChef.
On Monday, Wallace's MasterChef co-host John Torode confirmed he had a standalone allegation of racist language upheld in the same report.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


South Wales Guardian
7 minutes ago
- South Wales Guardian
Saturday's briefing: Ruben Amorim says the price has to be right for United
On the field, a dramatic run to the Women's European Championship final has been far from plain sailing for England boss Sarina Wiegman. Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim insists the club will not sell unwanted players on the cheap and he is prepared to welcome them back into the fold if necessary. Alejandro Garnacho, Jadon Sancho, Antony and Tyrell Malacia were left out of the tour of the United States and have been training at the club's Carrington complex. United's recent transfer dealings have been widely criticised and Amorim said chief executive Omar Berrada and sporting director Jason Wilcox would not be taken advantage of just to get rid of those surplus to requirements. 'I know for a fact that these people, Omar and Jason, and the club have a number (price) for these players. If they don't reach that, they will be Manchester United players, no doubt about that,' said the United boss. 'I understand clubs are maybe waiting for the last minute, but they can have a surprise and I'm ready. I'm ready to receive the players.' Bayern back for Diaz New Liverpool signing Hugo Ekitike's admission he wants to be a multi-functional forward could have implications for the future of Luis Diaz. The PA news agency understands Bayern Munich have returned to discussions with the Premier League champions having had an initial offer of 67.5million euro (£59million) dismissed last week. Liverpool have maintained they do not want to sell the forward, who has also attracted interest from Barcelona, and Bayern's bid was way below their own valuation of 100m euros (£87m) for an elite forward in the global market. Diaz, 29 in January, has two years left on his current deal but has not yet been offered a new contract. However, Ekitike's arrival in a £79m deal – and Liverpool's continued interest in Alexander Isak, who has reportedly told Newcastle he wants to leave – could provide an escape route for Diaz if the Bundesliga champions can come up with an appropriate offer. Lionesses 'nearly killed' Wiegman – Toone Midfielder Ella Toone joked England have 'nearly killed' Sarina Wiegman en route to booking their boss a trip to an unprecedented fifth straight major tournament final in dramatic style. No other head coach in the men's or women's game has achieved that feat. On Sunday against Spain Wiegman could secure a hat-trick of European championship trophies after winning with the Netherlands in 2017 and England in 2022. The Lionesses' title defence has required two consecutive stunning comebacks. 'I think we've nearly killed her twice this tournament. She's said we've definitely aged her,' said Toone. Trafford returns to City Manchester City have agreed a deal to bring goalkeeper James Trafford back to the club from Burnley. The PA news agency understands City will pay £27million for the England Under-21 international, beating Newcastle to his signing after activating a matching rights clause included when Trafford was sold to Burnley for £14million in 2023. Trafford, who joined City's academy at the age of 12 but never made a first-team appearance, has agreed a five-year contract with the option of a further 12 months. City's German goalkeeper Stefan Ortega could now depart in search of a regular starting spot, with the club keen to keep Ederson despite speculation linking the Brazilian with a move away.

Rhyl Journal
9 minutes ago
- Rhyl Journal
Gregg Wallace apologises, but says he is ‘not a groper, a sex pest or a flasher'
In an interview with The Sun, the TV presenter also defended his sacked former co-host John Torode, telling the paper he is 'not a racist'. Torode was the subject of an allegation about using racist language that was upheld as part of a review carried out by law firm Lewis Silkin into the alleged behaviour of co-presenter Wallace. Torode said he had 'no recollection of the incident' and was 'shocked and saddened' by the allegation. In November 2024 it was announced that Wallace would step away from his role on the BBC cooking show while historical allegations of misconduct were investigated. Wallace issued an apology saying he was 'deeply sorry for any distress caused' and that he 'never set out to harm or humiliate' in the wake of the Lewis Silkin review that saw 45 out of 83 allegations made against him upheld. The review concluded that the 'majority of the substantiated allegations against Mr Wallace related to inappropriate sexual language and humour', adding that 'a smaller number of allegations of other inappropriate language and being in a state of undress were also substantiated', with 'one incident of unwelcome physical contact' also substantiated. In fresh comments to The Sun, Wallace acknowledged that he had said things that 'offended people, that weren't socially acceptable and perhaps they felt too intimidated or nervous to say anything at the time. 'I understand that now – and to anyone I have hurt, I am so sorry.' Wallace added: 'I'm not a groper. People think I've been taking my trousers down and exposing myself – I am not a flasher. 'People think I'm a sex pest. I am not.' Wallace also said his recent autism diagnosis means he struggles 'to read people'. 'I know people find me weird,' he said. 'Autism is a disability, a registered disability.' Pointing to the allegation against Torode, Wallace told the paper: 'I've known John for 30 years and he is not a racist. 'And as evidence of that, I'll show you the incredible diversity of the people that he has championed, MasterChef winners, over the years. 'There is no way that man is a racist. No way. And my sympathies go out to John because I don't want anybody to go through what I've been through.' It was announced this week that a series of MasterChef filmed last year before allegations against Wallace and Torode were upheld will be broadcast on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from August 6. A decision on airing the celebrity series and Christmas special has not been decided, with plans to be confirmed later in the year, the BBC said. Both presenters will still feature in the upcoming series, but the edit will be looked at in light of the findings of an investigation, with focus being given to the contestants, the PA news agency understands. A BBC spokesperson said: 'After careful consideration and consultation with the contestants, we have decided to broadcast the amateur series of MasterChef on BBC One and BBC iPlayer from 6 August. 'MasterChef is an amazing competition which is life-changing for the amateur chefs taking part. The focus of it has always been their skill and their journey. 'This has not been an easy decision in the circumstances and we appreciate not everyone will agree with it. 'In showing the series, which was filmed last year, it in no way diminishes our view of the seriousness of the upheld findings against both presenters. 'We have been very clear on the standards of behaviour that we expect of those who work at the BBC or on shows made for the BBC. 'However, we believe that broadcasting this series is the right thing to do for these cooks who have given so much to the process. 'We want them to be properly recognised and give the audience the choice to watch the series. 'At this stage we have not taken a decision on the celebrity series and Christmas special, which was filmed earlier this year, and we will confirm our plans later in the year. 'Most importantly MasterChef is a brilliant, much-loved programme which is bigger than any one individual. 'There are many talented, dedicated and hard-working people who make the show what it is. It will continue to flourish on the BBC and we look forward to it returning stronger than ever in the future.'


Sky News
31 minutes ago
- Sky News
Gregg Wallace apologises to anyone he has hurt - but insists: 'I'm not a groper'
Gregg Wallace has spoken about his sacking from MasterChef after inappropriate behaviour while working for the BBC - but insisted he is "not a groper, a sex pest or a flasher". Wallace, 60, has apologised after a report, commissioned by the cooking show's production company Banijay UK, found 45 out of 83 allegations were substantiated. In an interview with The Sun, he said: "I know I have said things that offended people... I understand that now - and to anyone I have hurt, I am so sorry. "I don't expect anyone to have any sympathy with me but I don't think I am a wrong 'un." 1:34 MasterChef co-host John Torode also had an allegation that he used an "extremely offensive racist term" upheld, as part of the same investigation. Torode, who insisted he had "absolutely no recollection" of the alleged incident, has not had his contract for the show renewed. Wallace has now defended Torode, saying: "I've known John for 30 years and he is not a racist. "There is no way that man is a racist. No way. And my sympathies go out to John because I don't want anybody to go through what I've been through." At one point, Wallace became tearful during the interview when describing the impact of the investigation on his family. "I have seen myself written about in the same sentence as Jimmy Savile and Huw Edwards, paedophiles and sex offenders. That is just so, so horrific." In respect to the specific allegation of unwanted touching, Wallace denied groping a woman and said that, while he was attempting to flirt with her, he did believe the contact it was consensual. "She gave me her phone number. I considered that to be intimacy. It was 15 years ago. Me, drunk, at a party, with my hand on a girl's bum," he said. He also accepted he had briefly appeared with a sock on his private parts in front of four colleagues in MasterChef studio. But he said his is not a flasher, and people were either "amused or bemused" but not distressed. On the broader allegations about using inappropriate language, Wallace accepted the criticism and suggested that some of his conduct could be explained by his autism and his background. "I know I am odd. I know I struggle to read people. I know people find me weird. Autism is a... registered disability. Just because you can't see it doesn't mean it's not real." He also blamed his former career: "I'm a greengrocer from Peckham. I thrived in Covent Garden's fruit and veg market. In that environment that is jovial and crude. It is learned behaviour." Wallace told the newspaper he is now scared to appear in public: "I go out now in a disguise - a baseball cap and sunglasses, I don't want people to see me. I'm scared."