Scott Mills was the BBC's highest-paid on-air talent until his sacking in March 2026, earning between £745,000 and £749,999, according to the BBC's Annual Report for the year ending March 2026. Mills, who presented the BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show, was dismissed shortly before the Metropolitan Police revealed they had investigated him since 2016 over allegations of serious sexual offences against a boy under 16 between 1997 and 2000.
Top Earners and Notable Changes
Greg James, BBC Radio 1 DJ, came second with £440,000-£444,999, up from £425,000-£429,999 the previous year. Stephen Nolan, Northern Irish radio presenter, ranked third at £425,000-£429,999, also an increase from £405,000-£409,999.
Laura Kuenssberg, BBC political journalist, was the highest-paid female staff member, earning £405,000-£409,999, joint fourth with Vernon Kay. Gary Lineker saw a significant pay cut, dropping from £1,350,000-£1,354,999 to £325,000-£329,999, reflecting his reduced role after stepping back from Match of the Day.
Full List of BBC On-Air Pay Above £178,000 for 2025/26
The list, ranked by pay band, includes year-on-year changes. It excludes those paid via independent production companies or BBC Studios.
- 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 (not listed in 2024/25)
- 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 (not listed in 2024/25)
- 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 (not listed in 2024/25)
- 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 (not listed in 2024/25)
- 40=. Matt Chorley: £230,000-£234,999 (not listed in 2024/25)
- 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 (not listed in 2024/25)
- 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 (not listed in 2024/25)
- 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 (not listed in 2024/25)
- 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 (not listed in 2024/25)
- 65=. Charlie Stayt: £190,000-£194,999 (no change)
- 68=. Adrian Chiles: £185,000-£189,999 (not listed in 2024/25)
- 68=. Michael Vaughan: £185,000-£189,999 (not listed in 2024/25)
- 70. Steven Lai: £178,000-£184,999 (no change)
The BBC is required to declare salaries for staff earning over £178,000. The list highlights significant pay reductions for some, including Fiona Bruce and Nick Robinson, while others like Trevor Nelson and Jason Mohammad saw substantial increases.
