BBC’s value under question as salaries disclosure reveals big earners and gender pay gap

The publicly funded BBC was forced to publish the names and salaries of its highest-earning actors and presenters, unleashing a debate about fame, gender, race and the use of taxpayers’ money.

The list shows that the BBC pays 96 on-air personalities at least £150,000 (HK$1.5 million) a year. The broadcaster’s best-paid star, radio host Chris Evans, earns more than £2.2 million pounds.

The BBC was forced by the government to publish the ­salaries. The information is ­sensitive because the BBC is ­funded by ­taxpayers, though the £147 annual television licence.

The salaries were published in bands, rather than exact figures. Evans gets between £2.2 million and £2.25 million. Match of the Day host Gary Lineker receives between £1.75 million and £1.8 million, while talk-show host ­Graham Norton is paid between £850,000 and £900,000.

Two-thirds of the top earners are men. The highest-paid woman – Strictly Come Dancing host Claudia Winkleman – earns less than a quarter of Evans’ salary.

Newsreader Huw Edwards is paid over £550,000 – £200,000 more than Fiona Bruce, who does much the same job.