Roll up, roll up – it’s that deeply depressing time of year once again. The BBC has today published its annual list of obscenely overpaid employees, a chart dominated by so-called ‘stars’ from news, sport and radio.
Topping the list – before he was sacked in March over historical sexual offence allegations – is former Radio 2 breakfast show host Scott Mills. He was fortunate enough to pocket a whopping £750,000 from licence fee payers. Greg James comes second on an eye-watering £440,000.
Then we move on to news. In third place, Radio Ulster and 5 Live presenter Stephen Nolan rakes in £425,000, followed by Laura Kuenssberg on £405,000.
A little further down the list, Radio 4’s Justin Webb makes an appearance with a handsome £375,000 salary. BBC Breakfast’s Naga Munchetty is revealed to be on £360,000, while Question Time’s Fiona Bruce takes home £345,000.
A total of 51 journalists at the Beeb pocketed more than £178,000 in 2025/26. The Today programme’s Nick Robinson took a 19 per cent pay cut to £334,999. How considerate. The biggest increase went to Business Editor Simon Jack, whose salary rose by 20 per cent to £274,999. Also benefiting from the rinsing of licence fee payers was International Correspondent Lyse Doucet, whose pay climbed by 12 per cent to £234,999.
Discussing the figures, BBC deputy director general Rhodri Talfan Davies commented:
There is always a balancing act. We want to be a broadcaster that can attract the best talent, but we’re also very mindful of the financial pressures that we’re facing. But I think we’re striking that balance very, very carefully, and I think you’ll see that downward trend continuing in the months to come.
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