The BBC have today announced their 2019 salary list which shows the top earners at the corporation.
Gary Lineker tops the list with a whopping £1.75million wage, which hasn’t changed since last year.
However, there has undoubtedly been a rise in payment out to some stars.
BBC director general Tony Hall confirmed the total talent bill had risen by £10million, however, he argued that it was a smaller proportion of total programming costs.
He wrote in a blog: “They would earn significantly more elsewhere – and recent departures to commercial rivals show this argument isn’t hollow.
“The simple truth is we have spent more than ever on content, but the amount we have spent proportionally on talent has come down.
“But more importantly, whenever we ask the public whether they want big stars on the BBC they say yes. They say yes because they are talented and entertaining. They also say yes as it means they are getting big value from the BBC.”
Furthermore, stars including Jeremy Vine, John Humphrys and Steve Wright have all taken pay cuts.
Despite this, there are plenty of stars who have found their fortunes increase over the past year, including Zoe Ball and Sara Cox.
The salary list comes just weeks after the BBC confirmed it would be dropping free licence fees for the over-75s.
At the time, they said it was needed to ensure they didn’t compromise on output, with Hall adding: “This has not been an easy decision. Whilst we know that pensioner incomes have improved since 2000, we also know that for some the TV license is a lot of money.
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“I believe we have reached the fairest judgement after weighing up all the different arguments. It would not be right simply to abolish all free licences. Equally it would not be right to maintain it in perpetuity given the very profound impact that would have on many BBC services.”
At the time, the move caused considerable controversy across the country, with the likes of Piers Morgan calling for the plan to be scrapped.
Today, people have flocked to Twitter to comment on their feelings for the BBC’s pay rises considering the recent cuts.
One shared: “The BBC publicly demonstrates that it overpays all of its ‘Top Earners’ equally. I’m sure all of the over-75s think they’re worth every penny.”
Another added: “HOW CAN THE @bbc DEFEND ONE MILLION POUND WAGE PACKETS with plans to scrap free TV licences for over-75s.”
WATCH: Moment BBC presenter Jeremy Vine offers to pay pensioner’s BBC TV licence for life
“An increase in salaries while the @BBC wants to make over 75s pay for a TV Licence. Typical public service Gravy Train,” said a third.
Elsewhere on the list, women broke into the top ten for the first time.
Strictly Come Dancing host Claudia Winkleman bagged £370,000 and was eighth on the list of the top 10 earners.
She was joined by Zoe Ball, who earned the exact same figure while Vanessa Feltz came 10th, with £355,000 for her efforts on BBC Radio 2.
The likes of Jo Whiley, Gabby Logan and Lauren Laverne have also seen their pay increase dramatically.
