The BBC has published its annual report for 2025-2026, revealing the full list of on-air talent paid above £178,000. Former Radio 2 DJ Scott Mills tops the list with a pay band of £745,000-£749,999, a significant increase from his previous band of £355,000-£359,999 in 2024-2025.
Scott Mills' Dismissal and Replacement
Mills was dismissed from his Radio 2 breakfast show in March 2025 following allegations of sexual offences. He has since been replaced by Sara Cox, who debuted as the new host last week. Cox appears at number 17 on the pay list, earning £320,000-£324,999, up from £310,000-£314,999 the previous year.
Notable Changes in Pay Bands
Other prominent figures include Greg James at £440,000-£444,999 (up from £425,000-£429,999), Stephen Nolan at £425,000-£429,999 (up from £405,000-£409,999), and Vernon Kay at £405,000-£409,999 (up from £390,000-£394,999). Laura Kuenssberg also earns £405,000-£409,999, up from £395,000-£399,999.
Former Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker saw a dramatic decrease from £1,350,000-£1,354,999 to £325,000-£329,999, placing him at joint 15th. Alan Shearer's pay dropped from £440,000-£444,999 to £390,000-£394,999, ranking sixth.
New Entrants and Departures
Several names appear on the list for the first time in 2025-2026, including Nick Grimshaw (£335,000-£339,999), Anna Foster (£315,000-£319,999), Gabby Logan (£290,000-£294,999), Lauren Laverne (£235,000-£239,999), Matt Chorley (£230,000-£234,999), Johnathan Joseph (£225,000-£229,999), Kelly Cates (£215,000-£219,999), Paddy O'Connell (£210,000-£214,999), Adrian Chiles (£185,000-£189,999), and Michael Vaughan (£185,000-£189,999).
The list does not include individuals paid through independent production companies or BBC Studios, the corporation's commercial arm.
Full List of BBC On-Air Pay for 2025-2026
- 1 Scott Mills £745,000-£749,999 (up from £355,000-£359,999)
- 2 Greg James £440,000-£444,999 (up from £425,000-£429,999)
- 3 Stephen Nolan £425,000-£429,999 (up from £405,000-£409,999)
- 4= Vernon Kay £405,000-£409,999 (up from £390,000-£394,999)
- 4= Laura Kuenssberg £405,000-£409,999 (up from £395,000-£399,999)
- 6 Alan Shearer £390,000-£394,999 (down from £440,000-£444,999)
- 7 Justin Webb £375,000-£379,999 (up from £365,000-£369,999)
- 8 Naga Munchetty £360,000-£364,999 (up from £355,000-£359,999)
- 9 Fiona Bruce £345,000-£349,999 (down from £410,000-£414,999)
- 10 Sophie Raworth £340,000-£344,999 (down from £350,000-£354,999)
- 11= Mark Chapman £335,000-£339,999 (up from £325,000-£329,999)
- 11= Nick Grimshaw £335,000-£339,999 (new)
- 13= Trevor Nelson £330,000-£334,999 (up from £245,000-£249,999)
- 13= Nick Robinson £330,000-£334,999 (down from £410,000-£414,999)
- 15= Reeta Chakrabarti £325,000-£329,999 (up from £300,000-£304,999)
- 15= Gary Lineker £325,000-£329,999 (down from £1,350,000-£1,354,999)
- 17= Sara Cox £320,000-£324,999 (up from £310,000-£314,999)
- 17= Clive Myrie £320,000-£324,999 (down from £335,000-£339,999)
- 17= Amol Rajan £320,000-£324,999 (up from £315,000-£319,999)
- 20 Anna Foster £315,000-£319,999 (new)
- 21= Emma Barnett £305,000-£309,999 (up from £285,000-£289,999)
- 21= Evan Davis £305,000-£309,999 (up from £300,000-£304,999)
- 23= Ros Atkins £300,000-£304,999 (up from £295,000-£299,999)
- 23= Tina Daheley £300,000-£304,999 (up from £295,000-£299,999)
- 25 Nicky Campbell £295,000-£299,999 (down from £300,000-£304,999)
- 26= Gabby Logan £290,000-£294,999 (new)
- 26= Jason Mohammad £290,000-£294,999 (up from £230,000-£234,999)
- 28 Chris Mason £275,000-£279,999 (up from £270,000-£274,999)
- 29= Victoria Derbyshire £270,000-£274,999 (down from £275,000-£279,999)
- 29= Jeremy Bowen £270,000-£274,999 (up from £260,000-£264,999)
- 29= Simon Jack £270,000-£274,999 (up from £225,000-£229,999)
- 32 Jeremy Vine £265,000-£269,999 (down from £310,000-£314,999)
- 33 Sarah Montague £255,000-£259,999 (up from £250,000-£254,999)
- 34 Jo Whiley £250,000-£254,999 (up from £230,000-£234,999)
- 35= Katya Adler £245,000-£249,999 (up from £240,000-£244,999)
- 35= Sarah Smith £245,000-£249,999 (up from £230,000-£234,999)
- 37 Fergal Keane £240,000-£244,999 (up from £235,000-£239,999)
- 38= Faisal Islam £235,000-£239,999 (no change)
- 38= Lauren Laverne £235,000-£239,999 (new)
- 40= Matt Chorley £230,000-£234,999 (new)
- 40= Lyse Doucet £230,000-£234,999 (up from £205,000-£209,999)
- 40= Rick Edwards £230,000-£234,999 (down from £235,000-£239,999)
- 43= Jon Kay £225,000-£229,999 (down from £240,000-£244,999)
- 43= Johnathan Joseph £225,000-£229,999 (new)
- 45 Orla Guerin £220,000-£224,999 (up from £210,000-£214,999)
- 46= Rachel Burden £215,000-£219,999 (down from £220,000-£224,999)
- 46= Kelly Cates £215,000-£219,999 (new)
- 46= Katie Razzall £215,000-£219,999 (down from £220,000-£224,999)
- 49= Matthew Amroliwala £210,000-£214,999 (up from £200,000-£204,999)
- 49= Ben Brown £210,000-£214,999 (up from £200,000-£204,999)
- 49= Paddy O'Connell £210,000-£214,999 (new)
- 49= Jonny Dymond £210,000-£214,999 (up from £205,000-£209,999)
- 53= Owain Wyn Evans £205,000-£209,999 (up from £195,000-£199,999)
- 53= Lucy Hockings £205,000-£209,999 (up from £200,000-£204,999)
- 53= Caitriona Perry £205,000-£209,999 (up from £185,000-£189,999)
- 53= John Simpson £205,000-£209,999 (up from £190,000-£194,999)
- 53= Sumi Somaskanda £205,000-£209,999 (up from £185,000-£189,999)
- 58= Maryam Moshiri £200,000-£204,999 (up from £195,000-£199,999)
- 58= Sally Nugent £200,000-£204,999 (no change)
- 60= Sally Bundock £195,000-£199,999 (up from £190,000-£194,999)
- 60= Christian Fraser £195,000-£199,999 (down from £205,000-£209,999)
- 60= Jane Hill £195,000-£199,999 (down from £200,000-£204,999)
- 60= Annita McVeigh £195,000-£199,999 (up from £190,000-£194,999)
- 60= Alex Scott £195,000-£199,999 (down from £205,000-£209,999)
- 65= Craig Charles £190,000-£194,999 (no change)
- 65= Steve Rosenberg £190,000-£194,999 (new)
- 65= Charlie Stayt £190,000-£194,999 (no change)
- 68= Adrian Chiles £185,000-£189,999 (new)
- 68= Michael Vaughan £185,000-£189,999 (new)
- 70 Steven Lai £178,000-£184,999 (no change)
