The highest-paid BBC stars who are missing from the 2024 salary report - listed

The BBC is due to publish its report revealing the salaries of its highest-paid stars, but many of the best-known names will not have their earnings made public.

This is because the BBC does not have to disclose the salaries of the stars who are paid through independent production companies or the broadcaster’s commercial arm, BBC Studios.

The corporation argues that earnings coming from BBC Studios should not be disclosed because the money does not come directly from the licence fee and programmes are in competition with other broadcasters.

Gary Lineker and Zoe Ball are expected to top the list once again. In 2022-2023, the Match Of The Day presenter took home at least £1,350,000 while BBC Radio 2 host Zoe was paid a minimum of £980,000.

The people who work on the BBC’s major dramas such as Doctor Who, Casualty, EastEnders and Call The Midwife are also expected to be absent from the list.

There are some stars who will appear on the list, but only for some of the work they do for the BBC.

Clive Myrie will appear for his work on BBC News but not for hosting Mastermind or his travel documentaries.

Fiona Bruce will appear for Question Time and news bulletins but not Antiques Roadshow.

Evan Davis is listed for his BBC Radio 4 show but not for BBC Two’s Dragons’ Den.

And Amol Rajan will appear for BBC Radio 4’s Today programme and podcast, but not for presenting University Challenge.

The first BBC salary report, published in 2017, did include many of the now-absent names before the programme’s they work on were moved to BBC Studios.

For example, Graham Norton was listed as having earned at least £850,000 and Strictly Come Dancing host Claudia Winkleman took home a minimum £450,000.

Graham previously expressed his frustration about having salaries disclosed in the annual report. He said in 2018: "The salary thing, it's frustrating, because it's so inaccurate. It's so all over the shop," Norton says. "There are people I know who make millions from the BBC who are just not on that list. It's just like, really?"