Showbiz News
-
-
-
Loading
Loading
The BBC’s annual report for 2024/25 has revealed its highest earners once again, with Gary Lineker and Zoe Ball topping the list despite a turbulent year at the broadcaster.
Lineker, 63, earned £1.35 million over the last 12 months, making him the corporation’s highest-paid star for yet another year. His salary was paid primarily for hosting the BBC’s flagship football highlights show Match of the Day, as well as his work on live football coverage.
However, Lineker’s position at the BBC changed dramatically this spring, when he announced he was leaving his long-running role at Match of the Day in May. His departure came amid reports of growing tensions over impartiality rules and his outspoken political views on social media.
Meanwhile, Radio 2 presenter Zoe Ball remains the highest-paid woman at the BBC, earning £519,000 for hosting The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show. Despite fierce competition from commercial rivals, Ball has maintained a loyal audience and continues to anchor the station’s flagship morning programme.
This year’s report has once again reignited debate over the salaries of high-profile BBC talent, particularly in light of ongoing licence fee freezes and budget cuts that have affected services elsewhere at the broadcaster.
A BBC spokesperson defended the salaries, saying:
“We believe our presenters are world-class and deliver huge value to audiences. The salaries reflect the experience, popularity and professionalism of our leading talent, who help keep the BBC distinctive in an incredibly competitive market.”
Lineker’s salary has been a lightning rod for criticism in recent years, as he has consistently topped the list since it was first published in 2017 following government pressure for greater transparency. His latest pay packet represents a slight increase from last year’s figure.
Zoe Ball also attracted scrutiny when she signed her latest contract in 2021, taking a voluntary pay cut from over £1 million to her current rate. Even so, she remains the highest-paid female presenter at the corporation by some margin.
The full list of the BBC’s top 10 earners will be scrutinised in Parliament in the coming weeks, as the broadcaster prepares for further funding negotiations with the government.
Many in the industry argue that the BBC must compete with commercial broadcasters and streaming platforms to retain its biggest stars, while critics insist salaries are out of touch with the financial realities faced by licence fee payers.
Despite stepping down from his BBC role, Lineker has hinted at future projects, saying he remains committed to broadcasting and passionate about football. Zoe Ball, meanwhile, recently signed a new deal to continue on Radio 2 until at least 2026.
With audience habits changing and the BBC under pressure to modernise, the battle over how much its stars are worth is unlikely to go away any time soon.
