Scott Mills was the highest-paid BBC star before he was sacked in March this year.
According to the corporation’s annual report (via BBC News), Mills was paid around £745,000 before his exit for his tenure hosting the BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show as well as other BBC work, including several editions of Scott & Rylan’s Pop: Top 10 podcast.
Mills was sacked from the BBC over what the corporation described as concerns relating to his “personal conduct”. It was subsequently reported that Mills’ dismissal was linked to a police investigation in 2016 involving allegations of sexual offences against a teenage boy.
The BBC later admitted that concerns about ”inappropriate communications” involving Mills were raised last year, and apologised that no investigation was pursued at the time.
Mills later spoke out, confirming that an allegation of a historic sexual offence was made against him in 2016, and that he “fully co-operated and responded to” the police investigation. He said the “evidential threshold had not been met to bring charges”, and added that he hoped the public would “respect my wish not to make any further public comment on this matter”.
Sara Cox recently took over the BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show following his sacking.
Other high earners at the corporation included BBC Radio 1 breakfast presenter Greg James who earned an annual salary of £440,000, Stephen Nolan (£425,000), Laura Kuenssberg (£405,000), Vernon Kay (£405,000) and Alan Shearer (£390,000).
Mills’ predecessor Zoe Ball earned £950,000 on her final full year on the BBC Radio 2 breakfast show.
Another high earner Gary Lineker also left the BBC last summer after sharing an Instagram reel that featured an anti-Semitic illustration, for which he later apologised. His former role on Match Of The Day was split when he left and the show is now hosted by three presenters, who are individually paid significantly less than Lineker was.
Mark Chapman was paid around £335,000 annually, Gabby Logan made £290,000, and Kelly Cates earned £215,000 – compared with Lineker’s £1.3million salary.