The BBC has published its annual spending report, revealing the salaries of its highest-paid stars. Topping the list is former BBC Radio 2 presenter Scott Mills, who earned £745,000 last year, more than double his previous salary of £355,000. The 53-year-old broadcaster was later sacked over allegations of personal misconduct, specifically new details emerging from a 2017 police investigation where he allegedly sexually assaulted a victim under 16.
BBC Response to Scott Mills Allegations
In a statement in April, the BBC attempted to distance itself from the scandal, insisting it was aware of the police investigation into serious sexual offences but had no knowledge of the child's age. Critics argue this shows lazy management and backpedalling, especially given the corporation is funded by British taxpayers. Mills has since been replaced by Zoe Ball, whose salary has not been announced.
Radio Presenters Dominate Top Earners
More than half of the highest-paid list consists of radio broadcasters. Greg James doubled his earnings from £200,000 to £440,000. Other top radio earners include Stephan Nolan, Vernon Kay, and Naga Munchetty. This favouritism towards radio talent is likely due to backlash from TV shows like Strictly Come Dancing and MasterChef.
TV Presenters in the List
The first TV presenter in the top five is political editor Laura Kuenssberg, earning £405,000. BBC Breakfast's Naga Munchetty saw her salary rise to £360,000. Only two presenters saw a drop in earnings: Question Time host Fiona Bruce and Match of the Day pundit Alan Shearer. Sophie Raworth earned £340,000 as one of the few senior newsreaders on the list.
Criticism of BBC's Financial Management
The report comes after a £5.50 increase to the TV licence fee in April, bringing the annual cost to £180. The author argues the BBC is not cutting costs effectively and shows bias in spending. She suggests the BBC should seek outside investors like Channel 4 or ITV rather than burdening taxpayers during a cost-of-living crisis.
