Scott Mills has been revealed as the BBC’s highest-paid on-air personality for the year ending March 2026, earning between £745,000 and £749,999 before his sudden dismissal from the corporation.
The newly published figures have stunned licence-fee payers, particularly because Mills’ earnings more than doubled from the previous year, when he received between £355,000 and £359,999.
His increased salary covered his work presenting the BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show, which he took over from Zoe Ball in January 2025, alongside other programmes and broadcasting commitments. The role placed him at the centre of one of the BBC’s most important radio schedules and helped him reach an audience of millions.
However, the salary revelation comes only months after Mills was removed from the BBC in March following what the corporation described as new information relating to his personal conduct.
It later emerged that Metropolitan Police had investigated historical allegations involving a boy aged under 16. Mills cooperated with that investigation, which was closed in 2019 after prosecutors concluded there was insufficient evidence to bring charges. He has never been charged in connection with the allegations.
The timing has triggered fierce debate over how the BBC manages both its highest-paid talent and public money.
Mills overtook Gary Lineker, who had topped the BBC salary table for eight consecutive years. Lineker’s reported earnings fell to between £325,000 and £329,999 after leaving the corporation, while Radio 1 presenter Greg James ranked second with earnings of up to £444,999.
The controversy comes during an exceptionally difficult period for the BBC. Licence-fee payments have fallen sharply, thousands of jobs face being cut and the corporation is seeking hundreds of millions of pounds in savings. Its leadership has described the current financial situation as a moment of “real jeopardy”.
BBC executives maintain that spending on top presenters has fallen over recent years and argue that competitive salaries remain necessary to retain leading broadcasting talent.
Yet for many viewers, the sight of a dismissed presenter topping the pay list with almost £750,000 will be difficult to understand.
💷 As the BBC battles falling trust and growing financial pressure, Scott Mills’ extraordinary salary has become another explosive question over accountability, judgement and how licence-fee money is spent.
