BBC defends Huw Edwards’ salary increase despite resignation over a year ago

The list of BBC salaries over £178,000 from 2023 to 2024 has been revealed, with Gary Lineker topping the highest-paid stars with a fee superseding £1million.

It has also been revealed that Huw Edwards received a six-figure salary before his resignation from the broadcaster in April 2023 after 40 years.

The boss of the BBC, Tim Davie, has defended the newsreader earning an increase in his salary, while stars from programmes including Strictly Come Dancing remain absent from the list.

Edwards was paid between £475,000 and £479,999 for 160 presenting days, BBC One news specials, election specials and other television programming, according to the BBC’s annual report.

Other notable names included on the list are Zoe Ball, Greg James, Fiona Bruce and Naga Munchetty.

Addressing Edwards’ salary increase, Davie said: ‘We’ve said that before, no settlement payment.’

He continued: ‘I think that’s inappropriate with an individual case like this. Look, we are always trying to be very judicious with the spending of public money and no-one wants to waste a pound.

‘But what you’re trying to do, and from the onset of that affair, was trying to act proportionally, fairly and navigate this appropriately.

‘I think that’s what we did and it ended up in the conclusion, we all know, but I think we wouldn’t have wasted money if we weren’t doing the right thing.’

Edwards was suspended following allegations that he paid more than £35,000 to a young person who sent him sexually explicit images.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed that there was no evidence to suggest that a criminal offence had been committed.

A second young person claimed that the newsreader sent them expletive-filled messages, while a third alleged that he broke lockdown rules to meet them.

It was claimed by BBC programme Newsnight that Edwards sent ‘inappropriate’ and ‘suggestive’ messages to junior employees of the broadcaster, but the messages were not deemed to be criminal.

Football pundit Lineker – who topped the list – has seen no change to his salary, which remains between a hefty £1,350,000 to £1,354,999 for the period.

In second place comes radio legend Ball, who earned between £950,000 to £954,999 in a slight decrease to her prior salary.

Then in third is Edwards, despite the newsreader resigning from his role at the BBC in April last year.

Following Edwards is BBC Radio 1’s James, who recently climbed the O2 with popstar Billie Eilish.

The radio presenter took home between £415,000 and £419,000 for his presenting duties, surpassing the £400,000 mark in comparison to his previous fee.

Question Time’s Bruce earned between £405,000 to £409,000, while BBC Northern Ireland presenter Stephen Nolan received the same amount, meaning they were both in the fifth position.

Radio presenter Lauren Laverne secured the seventh spot, earning just under £400,000.

She’s followed by pundit Alan Shearer, who received between £380,000 and £384,999.

BBC Breakfast star Munchetty received between £345,000 to £349,999 for the time period in an increase from her previous salary, while BBC Radio 4 Today star Nick Robinson earned the same amount.

Some people might be wondering why the stars of Strictly Come Dancing, as well as programmes such as Dragons’ Den and The Traitors, are absent from the list.

However, the reason for this is because they’re paid via production companies, and so they – including stars paid by BBC Studios – are not disclosed in the annual report.

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