Gary Lineker, Graham Norton & Jeremy Clarkson pay revealed as BBC cuts back on payment to ‘stars’ by £9.7m
The BBC has cut back on its payments to “stars” by £9.7m - spending just over £203m in the past financial year on salaries for its presenters and "talent".
The corporation’s annual report, published yesterday, revealed that 16 individuals were paid more than £500,000 in 2011-2012, with six paid over £1m, including Gary Lineker and Graham Norton, with The Guardian also claiming that Chris Evans and Alan Hansen ‘are also likely’ to be top earners.
Jeremy Clarkson has also been cited by The Guardian as having earned £900,000 in total, as commercial revenue from Top Gear grew from £6m to £9m.
The BBC has however cut its spend on £1m-plus talent from £14.7m the previous year.
Also revealed was departing director general Mark Thompson having earned £622,000 in the past financial year - down from £779,000.
He will be replaced by BBC Vision director George Entwistle, who will earn £450,000 in his first year.
Lord Patten, chairman of the BBC Trust, said: "We have continued to push hard on value for money, encouraging the BBC to drive down senior management pay and draw up a plan for living in more financially constrained times."