Entertainment
BBC annual report reveals Scott Mills as highest-paid star before sacking, decline in TV licences
July 14, 2026 at 02:59 PM
Coverage
3 reports
BNBBC News
BBC pay 2025-2026: The full list of star salaries
(opens the publisher’s site)
TGThe Guardian
BBC faces ‘real jeopardy’ as licence fee payments fall faster than expected
(opens the publisher’s site)
BNBBC News
Scott Mills was highest paid BBC star before sacking, annual report shows
(opens the publisher’s site)The BBC has published its annual report for 2025-2026, disclosing star salaries and a drop in TV licence numbers.
- The BBC published its annual list of the salaries of its highest-paid presenters for the 2025-2026 financial year.
- Scott Mills was the highest-paid star, earning between £745,000 and £749,999, before being sacked in March after allegations of historical sexual offences; he was not charged.
- Gary Lineker's salary fell to £325,000-£329,999 after leaving the BBC last summer, down from £1.35m in the previous year.
- The number of TV licences in force dropped by 539,000 to 23.3 million during the financial year.