BBC Publishes 2025-2026 Star Salaries: Scott Mills Tops List at £750,000
The BBC has released its annual list of salaries for its highest-paid on-air talent for the 2025-2026 financial year. Former Radio 2 breakfast host Scott Mills leads the list with earnings between £745,000 and £749,999, a significant increase from the previous year's £355,000-£359,999 bracket. Other top earners include Greg James (£440,000-£444,999), Stephen Nolan (£425,000-£429,999), Laura Kuenssberg (£405,000-£409,999), and Vernon Kay (£405,000-£409,999). Notable changes include Gary Lineker's drop from £1.35 million to £325,000-£329,999 after leaving Match of the Day, and new entries Nick Grimshaw, Anna Foster, Gabby Logan, Matt Chorley, DJ Spoony, Kelly Cates, and Paddy O'Connell. Many high-profile stars like Claudia Winkleman, Graham Norton, and Michael McIntyre are absent because their shows are produced by BBC Studios or independent companies, exempting them from disclosure. The list includes 71 presenters earning over £178,000, with salaries ranging up to £750,000. The BBC's annual pay report reflects ongoing scrutiny of public broadcaster compensation.
Key facts
- Scott Mills earned £745,000-£749,999 as top earner in 2025-2026
- Gary Lineker's salary dropped from £1.35 million to £325,000-£329,999
- Greg James earned £440,000-£444,999, up from £425,000-£429,999
- Laura Kuenssberg earned £405,000-£409,999, up from £395,000-£399,999
- Vernon Kay earned £405,000-£409,999, up from £390,000-£394,999
- New entrants include Nick Grimshaw, Anna Foster, Gabby Logan, Matt Chorley, DJ Spoony, Kelly Cates, and Paddy O'Connell
- Claudia Winkleman, Graham Norton, and Michael McIntyre are absent due to BBC Studios exemption
- 71 presenters earned over £178,000 in the 2025-2026 financial year
Entities
Artists
- Scott Mills
- Greg James
- Stephen Nolan
- Laura Kuenssberg
- Vernon Kay
- Alan Shearer
- Justin Webb
- Naga Munchetty
- Fiona Bruce
- Sophie Raworth
- Nick Grimshaw
- Mark Chapman
- Trevor Nelson
- Nick Robinson
- Reeta Chakrabarti
- Gary Lineker
- Sara Cox
- Clive Myrie
- Amol Rajan
- Anna Foster
- Emma Barnett
- Evan Davis
- Ros Atkins
- Tina Daheley
- Nicky Campbell
- Gabby Logan
- Jason Mohammad
- Chris Mason
- Victoria Derbyshire
- Jeremy Bowen
- Simon Jack
- Jeremy Vine
- Sarah Montague
- Jo Whiley
- Katya Adler
- Sarah Smith
- Fergal Keane
- Faisal Islam
- Lauren Laverne
- Lyse Doucet
- Rick Edwards
- Matt Chorley
- Jon Kay
- DJ Spoony
- Orla Guerin
- Rachel Burden
- Kelly Cates
- Katie Razzall
- Matthew Amroliwala
- Ben Brown
- Jonny Dymond
- Paddy O'Connell
- Lucy Hockings
- Catriona Perry
- John Simpson
- Sumi Somaskanda
- Owain Wyn Evans
- Maryam Moshiri
- Sally Nugent
- Sally Bundock
- Christian Fraser
- Jane Hill
- Annita McVeigh
- Alex Scott
- Charlie Stayt
- Craig Charles
- Steve Rosenberg
- Adrian Chiles
- Michael Vaughan
- Steven Lai
- Claudia Winkleman
- Graham Norton
- Michael McIntyre
- Zoe Ball
- Rylan Clark
- Stacey Solomon
- Alex Jones
- Romesh Ranganathan
- Lord Sugar
- Bradley Walsh
- Paddy McGuinness
- Rachel Reeves
Institutions
- BBC
- BBC Studios
- Radio 2
- Radio 1
- Radio Ulster
- 5 Live
- Radio 4
- 6 Music
- Radio 1Xtra
- BBC One
- BBC News Channel
- BBC Breakfast
- Match of the Day
- Newsnight
- Question Time
- BBC Radio 2
- BBC News
- BBC Radio 4
- Antiques Roadshow
- ITV
- Netflix
- Greatest Hits Radio
Locations
- United Kingdom
- Northern Ireland