• [Daily Mirror Icon]
• 3am
• Celebrity News
• BBC salaries

Exposed BBC salaries reveal top-earning Claudia Winkleman earns staggering 1.5m LESS than Chris Evans

For the first time, the corporation has had to disclose the earnings of talent who are paid more than 150,000 from licence fee revenue in a year

The staggering exposure of BBC salaries has revealed the top-earning woman earns 1.5 million less than her male counterpart.

Presenter Claudia Winkleman is paid just under 500,000 for her roles on Strictly Come Dancing and Radio 2, while Top Gear host Chris Evans receives an incredible 2.2 million paycheck.

The official figures also reveal two-thirds of the highest paid talent are men, with just one third women.

For the first time, the corporation has had to disclose the earnings of talent who are paid more than 150,000 from licence fee revenue in a year, a stipulation set out in the new Royal Charter from the government.

Many BBC figures have welcomed the unveiling of their salaries, including Evans himself.

"I think this is the beginning of it [the gender pay gap] being redressed, I imagine," he said outside the central London studio this morning.

"I think the most important thing is that we're the ultimate public company and therefore I think that, on balance, it's probably right and proper that people know what we get paid."

[Salaries-For-Top-Talent-Revealed-By-The-BBC.jpg]

Chris Evans earns up to 2.49million for his Radio 2 and previous Top Gear work(Image: Getty Images Europe)

[The-Victoria-and-Albert-Museum-Summer-Party-London-UK-21-Jun-2017.jpg]

Claudia Winkleman is the top-earning woman - but still earns 1.5million less than the highest-paid man(Image: Rex Features)

Ahead of the big reveal, which was released in waves of 50,000 bands, Good Morning Britain presenter Piers Morgan slammed the BBC for its gender pay gap.

He claimed the BBC does not practice what it preaches when it comes to equality - and that ITV is leaps and bounds ahead of the state broadcaster.

[Daily Mirror Icon]

BBC salaries revealed

[Full list]

Full list

[Shocking gender divide]

Shocking gender divide

[#notonthelist presenter delivers news]

#notonthelist presenter delivers news

[Latest news]

Latest news

Top 5 earners

1. Chris Evans - 2,200,000-2,249,999

2. Gary Lineker - 1,750,000-1,799,999

3. Graham Norton - 850,000-899,999

4. Jeremy Vine - 700,000-749,999

5. John Humphrys - 600,000-649,999

Match of the Day host Gary Lineker's salary is second only to Chris Evans', although this list does not include what several big stars earn from independent companies that make programmes for the BBC or what they earn from their own production companies.

According to the annual report, Clare Balding's BBC salary is in the lowest declared bracket of 150,000-199,999, the same as Jonathan Agnew, John McEnroe and rugby union pundit Jonathan Davies.

[BBC-annual-report.jpg]

Political editor Laura Kuenssberg earns 200,000 to 249,000 (Image: PA)

In entertainment, talk-show host Graham Norton earned between 850,000 and 899,000, while Alex Jones, presenter of The One Show, pulled in between 400,000 and 449,000.

There could also be embarrassment for the presenters of flagship Radio 4 programme, Today.

John Humphrys earns between 600,000 and 649,000, for the morning news programme and other work, including presenting Mastermind.

Nick Robinson is on 250,000 to 299,000, ahead of female presenter Mishal Husain (200,000 to 249,000), who also presents TV news for the corporation, but their colleague Sarah Montague does not make the 150,000 pay bracket.

Over on BBC Radio 5 Live, Radio Ulster presenter Stephen Nolan earns 450,000 - more than three of Today programme's hosts.

[Jeremy Vine on BBC reality show 'Strictly Come Dancing']

Jeremy Vine gets paid up to 749,000 a year(Image: BBC)

[BBC-annual-report.jpg]

Graham Norton earns between 850,000 and 899,999(Image: PA)

Lord Hall told Radio 4's Today programme the BBC had reduced its spending on top talent by 25% in the past four years and 10% since last year, when 109 people took home a total of 31 million.

He also revealed there is a "clear target" to "equally divide" BBC jobs between men and women.

"At the moment, of the talent earning over 150,000, two thirds are men and one third are women," he said.

"We've set a clear target for 2020 - we want all our lead and presenting roles to be equally divided between men and women.

"And it's already having an impact. If you look at those on the list who we have hired or promoted in the last three years, 60% are women and nearly a fifth come from a BAME [black, Asian and minority ethnic] background."

[BBC-annual-report.jpg]

Huw Edwards pulls in 550,000 to 599,999(Image: PA)

[Daily Mirror Icon]

Making pay fairer

[Plans for fairer pay blocked]

Plans for fairer pay blocked

[What can you do if you're paid less]

What can you do if you're paid less

[Somehow the gender pay gap has got worse]

Somehow the gender pay gap has got worse

[Women paid 3k less despite same job]

Women paid 3k less despite same job

The list also reveals that newsreader and Antiques Roadshow presenter Fiona Bruce earns between 350,000 and 399,000, but fellow news host Huw Edwards is on 550,000 to 599,999.

BBC Radio 2 presenter Jeremy Vine earns 749,000.

The BBC's political editor Laura Kuenssberg is on 200,000 to 249,000, below news presenter George Alagiah (250,000-299,000) and Radio 4's PM host Eddie Mair (300,000 - 349,000).

[tjr_dpw_280617barker.jpg]

Wimbledon presenter Sue Barker earns between 300,000 and 349,000(Image: publicity pic)

[BBC-annual-report.jpg]

Gary Lineker earns between 1,750,000 and 1,799,999(Image: PA)

Wimbledon presenter Sue Barker was the top-earning woman in sports, earning between 300,000 and 349,000.

In news and current affairs, Radio 4 journalist and presenter Eddie Mair topped the list as the only entrant in the 300,000 to 349,000 bracket.

Strictly judge Darcey Bussell earns between 150,000 and 199,999, putting her in the same band as Craig Revel Horwood.

But Bruno Toniolo, who also worked on Eurovision: You Decide, and former head judge Len Goodman earn more at 200,000 to 249,999.

Sorry, this content is no longer supported

Stars of Casualty and EastEnders dominate the highest earning list of actors.

Long-running Casualty star Derek Thompson, who plays Charlie Fairhead in the popular medical drama, earns between 350,000 and 399,000.

His co-star Amanda Mealing, who plays Connie Beauchamp in Casualty and Holby City, is on 250,000 to 299,999.

Adam Woodyatt, Albert Square's Ian Beale, is one of the top paying EastEnders actors at 200,000 to 249,000, along with newer recruit Danny Dyer (Mick Carter).

June Brown - EastEnders' Dot Cotton - is not on the list.

Doctor Who star Peter Capaldi was paid between 200,000 to 249,0000.

Top Gear's Matt LeBlanc is not on the list but it has not been disclosed whether he is paid 150,000 or more but from BBC Worldwide.

Names like Mary Berry are not on the list because she would have been paid by an independent production company, which the BBC paid.

The figures are for the money stars received from the licence fee from the financial year April 2016 to April 2017.

[Daily Mirror Icon]

ENJOYED THIS STORY?

Choose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.