BBC reveals salaries for staff earning more than £150,000 per year

THE whopping amount of money the BBC pays to some of its star presenters has been revealed, forcing some monumentally awkward conversations.

THE salaries of top BBC television and radio stars earning more than £150,000 (A$246,000) have been revealed after a plan to keep pay secret was blocked by government ministers.

Bosses revealed the corporation’s highest paid star is Chris Evans, a former radio DJ and former host of the revamped Top Gear, who earns a whopping £2.2 million (A$3.61 million) a year.

It’s four times more than Claudia Winkleman who is the highest paid woman, earning between £400,000 (A$656,800) and £450,000 (A$738,900) per year for hosting Strictly Come Dancing.

Chris Evans is the UK’s highest paid star. Picture: Dan Kitwood/Getty Images.

Claudia Winkleman. Picture: Jeff Spicer/Jeff Spicer/Getty Images.

Presenter of football show Match of the Day, Gary Lineker, earns up to £1.79 million (A$2.94 million) a year.

Talk show host Graham Norton was named as earning up to £899,000 (A$1.47 million) for presenting Eurovision and radio duties, however this is believed to be a fraction of his actual pay which is supplemented via production company payments. In April last year it was revealed his salary is closer to £2.5 million (A$4.11 million).

Presenter of the flagship News at 10, Huw Edwards, takes home £600,000 (A$958,000). Meanwhile Fiona Bruce, who also hosts the show at times and does Antiques Roadshow, takes home £399,000 (A$650,500).

MORE: Read the full list here

The list also includes a range of contributors, sports commentators and drama stars. Danni Minogue was named as earning between £200,000 and £249,999 (up to $A410,000) as a “contributor” likely for her role on new talent show Let It Shine.

Amanda Mealing, who plays Connie Beauchamp in Casualty and EastEnders Star Danny Dyer were in the same pay bracket. Tennis commentator John McEnroe earned up to £199,999 (A$326,000).

Dannii Minogue was named as earning up to $410,000 as a contributor. Picture: Julie Kiriacoudis

The disclosure was forced under a new royal charter and includes 96 stars ranging from radio to television news, reality and drama shows. It’s designed to ensure the licence fee paid by UK taxpayers is transparent.

However it doesn’t include money stars receive from other sources such as production companies or BBC Worldwide, which is the commercial arm. It also fails to distinguish between those with just one job and multiple ones inside the organisation.

Top Gear host Matt Le Blanc was not included on the list because he is understood to be paid from the commercial arm. Picture: Neil Mockford/Alex Huckle/GC Images.

The release has prompted major debate in the UK over whether the details should be made public.

The BBC claims it pays stars under market value for their roles but many accept reduced pay in order to work at the institution which reaches 95 per cent of UK adults every week. There are also fears the information could be used to lure stars to other channels.

However viewers may be shocked at the seemingly astronomical figures for some. It could also lead to difficult conversations between co-presenters, such as on the BBC Breakfast couch where newcomer Dan Walker was revealed to be earning more than £200,000 while his co-hosts Louise Minchin and Charlie Stayt did not appear on the list. Mr Walker also presents Football Focus and was part of the organisations Rio Olympics coverage.

Only one third of the top earners are women, leading director general Tony Hall to say efforts to address inequality at the corporation need to be sped up.

There is also a disparity between white stars and those from a black, Asian or ethnic minority background (BAME), with the highest paid BAME stars earning between £250,000 and £300,000 (A$410,000 — $492,000).

Peter Capaldi as The Doctor in Doctor Who earned between £200,000 and £250,000.