DJ Scott Mills was the BBC's highest-paid presenter before his dismissal earlier this year, earning approximately £745,000 in his final year, according to the corporation's annual report. The 53-year-old hosted the BBC Radio 2 breakfast show until March, when allegations of historical sexual offenses emerged. Mills cooperated with a police investigation, which was closed in 2019 with no charges brought due to insufficient evidence.

The report details Mills's earnings, which represent nearly his full annual salary as he was sacked shortly before the financial year concluded. His remuneration covered his tenure on the Radio 2 breakfast show and other BBC projects, including several editions of the 'Scott Rylan's Pop: Top 10' podcast. This figure marks a substantial increase from the £355,000 he earned in the previous financial year, when he hosted Radio 2's afternoon show for 10 months and the breakfast show for two.

Other notable high earners featured in the report include Greg James, Stephen Nolan, Laura Kuenssberg, Vernon Kay, and Alan Shearer. However, Gary Lineker's earnings dropped significantly, reflecting his departure from the BBC partway through the financial year. The annual report also highlights a decline in TV licence revenue, with 539,000 fewer licences in force last year, contributing to a two million decrease over the past five years.

The list of top earners is not exhaustive, as it only includes talent paid directly by the BBC. Many prominent figures, such as Claudia Winkleman, Michael McIntyre, and Graham Norton, are absent because they are remunerated through production companies. This means the published salaries offer an incomplete picture of the total earnings of BBC's top on-air talent.

In March, details emerged regarding the accusations against Mills, which involved a teenager under 16 in the late 1990s. The police investigation, initiated in 2016, concluded in 2019 with prosecutors finding insufficient evidence to proceed with charges. Mills stated his full cooperation with the investigation.

Scott Mills's predecessor on the Radio 2 breakfast show, Zoe Ball, was paid over £1.36 million in her first year hosting the show in 2019. Ball's salary decreased over her six years in the role, with her final full year earnings at just over £950,000. The BBC reportedly saved approximately £200,000 by replacing Ball with Mills.

Both Zoe Ball and Gary Lineker, who had consistently topped the star salaries list for the past six years, exited their respective flagship shows last year. Lineker departed the BBC in the summer after sharing controversial content on social media, subsequently signing new contracts with ITV and Netflix. His role on 'Match of the Day' was divided among several presenters following his exit.

Sara Cox has since taken over as the host of Radio 2's breakfast show, while the BBC has not yet announced a permanent replacement for Mills's teatime slot on the station. The future of other high earners and the impact of declining TV licence numbers on BBC programming and talent acquisition remain subjects of ongoing discussion.