Nolan in top 10 earners at BBC

The salaries of the top 96 presenters have been released for the first time.

Stephen Nolan/Press Eye
Published 19th Jul 2017
Last updated 19th Jul 2017

Stephen Nolan is among the top 10 earners in the BBC with a salary up to £450,000.

The salary puts him ahead of a number of well know broadcasters, such as nick Robinson and Laura Kunessberg and George Alagiah.

The Belfast born presenter hosts radio shows on BBC Radio Ulster and 5 live along with a TV show on BBC Northern Ireland.

The presenter had a public exchange with William Crawley, host of Radio Ulster's Talkback, over his refusal to be interviewed on the show about his pay packet.

Crawley tweeted: Stephen Nolan has turned down an invitation from @BBCTalkback to be interviewed on today's programme about BBC salaries.''

Nolan referred to the tweet during his show, telling his listeners: What I actually said to William is, I think it is really important for the maximum amount of people to have a chance to listen to someone interviewing me.

"I think it is therefore important not to go on the smaller phone-in show but to go on the show which has the bigger audience.''

In response, Crawley tweeted: I well understand that @StephenNolan would prefer to manage a story about himself on his own show rather than face me in an interview today.''

Northern Ireland actor Derek Thompson is the top earner in the scripted TV category, taking home up to £400,000.

He plays Charlie Fairhead in the medical drama Casualty and ranks above Dr Who star Peter Capaldi.

The figures were revealed by the corporation in its annual report of on-air talent who earn over £150,000

DJ Chris Evans tops the list pocketing up to £2.5 million, followed by Gary Linneaker who earned a maximum of £1.8 million.

There could be embarrassment for the presenters of flagship Radio 4 program, Today.

John Humphrys earns between £600,000 and £649,000, for the morning news programme and other work, including presenting Mastermind.

Nick Robinson is on £250,000 to £299,000, that's ahead of female presenter Mishal Husain (£200,000 to £249,000),

She also presents TV news for the corporation.

However their colleague Sarah Montague does not make the £150,000 pay bracket.

The list reveals that newsreader and Antiques Roadshow presenter Fiona Bruce earns between £350,000 and £399,000 but fellow news host Huw Edwards is on £550,000 to £599,999.

The BBC's political editor Laura Kuenssberg is on £200,000 to £249,000, below news presenter George Alagiah (£250,000-£299,000) and Radio 4's PM host Eddie Mair (£300,000 - £349,000).

News host Sophie Raworth is on £150,000 to £199,000.

Strictly Come Dancing's Claudia Winkleman earns more than her co-host Tess Daly, the annual BBC report shows.

Winkleman falls into the Multi-Genre salary band, which means she has drawn earnings from various BBC programmes and not just from her work on Strictly.

She also presents a weekly show on BBC Radio 2.

Winkleman is listed as earning between £450,000 - £499,999.

Daly, who has been a co-host of Strictly's main spectacular since 2004, is listed in the TV Non-Scripted (Factual and Entertainment) category as earning between £350,000 - £399,999