BBC says more stars will join top earners on over £150,000

GARY LINEKER again tops the BBC's rich list earning around £1.3 million a year as the corporation warned it expects more people to join its top earners.

- Robert Dex

Accounts published today reveal other big earners to include Radio 2's Zoe Ball who gets between £980,000 and £984,999, Radio 1's Scott Mills who is on between £400,000 and £404,999 and Lineker's Match of the Day co-star Alan Shearer, who earns between £450,000 and £454,999.

One newcomer to the list, former women's footballer Alex Scott, earns between £195,000 to £199,999, more than £1.1 million less than Lineker.

The BBC lists on-air stars earning above £150,000 a year in bands of £5,000 so exact salaries are not revealed and it does not include all its top earners. Notable absentees include Graham Norton, whose chat show is made by BBC Studios which is regarded as a commercial entity, with the same reason prohibiting the publication of pay for the stars of shows including EastEnders and Top Gear.

In its annual report, the corporation said: "We continue to operate in extremely competitive markets for talent, with inflation levels for pay often well above the average for the UK economy. This pressure, taken with the fixed £150,000 entry point to the list, suggests that more individuals will appear on these lists over time."