Scott Mills bid farewell to his substantial salary after being dismissed from the BBC earlier this year. The Mirror reported that his termination was due to concerns over his behavior in a past relationship, which came to light when it was revealed that the individual involved was under 16 at the time of a 2017 police investigation.
Before his departure, Mills’ earnings had surged from £355,000-£359,999 to a staggering £745,000-£749,999. Despite being the highest-paid on-air personality, other BBC presenters are also raking in significant sums.
Greg James from Radio 1 saw his pay climb by at least £10,000 to £440,000-£444,999 compared to the previous year’s £425,000-£429,999. Meanwhile, Stephen Nolan in Northern Ireland, known for hosting various shows, saw a £20,000 increase, placing him as the third-highest earner behind Mills at £425,000-£429,999.
Among the top earners are Laura Kuenssberg, the highest-paid female presenter, who received a £10,000 raise, now earning £405,000-£409,999, the same bracket as Radio 2’s Vernon Kay, with his pay seeing a £15,000 boost.
The spotlight is now on Sara Cox, the new Radio 2 breakfast show host, expected to experience a substantial salary increase following her recent appointment.
Former BBC presenter Gary Lineker left the network at the end of the football season in May 2025, still managing to earn £325,000-£329,999 in his final months, having been the highest-paid presenter at £1.35 million annually. His colleague Alan Shearer, who also contributes to other broadcasters, earns between £390,000-£394,999 for his BBC commitments.
These figures come in the wake of editorial challenges faced by BBC News, including criticism for perceived bias, editing discrepancies, and misquoting political figures such as Donald Trump and Nigel Farage. The report highlighted a decline in trust in news providers like the BBC, citing concerns over impartiality and accuracy due to editorial issues during 2025/26.
Curious about the BBC’s top earners? Here’s a list of the organization’s highest-paid presenters; share your views on whether BBC presenters are overpaid:
1) Scott Mills £745,000-£749,999
2) Greg James £440,000-£444,999
3) Stephen Nolan £425,000-£429,999
4) = Laura Kuenssberg £405,000-£409,999
4) = Vernon Kay £405,000-£409,999
6) Alan Shearer £390,000-£394,999
7) Justin Webb £375,000-£379,999
8) Naga Munchetty £360,000-£364,999
9) Fiona Bruce £345,000-£349,999
10) Sophie Raworth £340,000-£344,999