The annual top 10 list of the highest-paid presenters at the BBC for 2022-23 has been unveiled.
Right in the midst of what is one of the most highly-publicised national news stories at the moment, with the allegations against the unnamed BBC presenter grabbing every headline there is, the broadcaster has chosen now to publish its annual list of highest-paid stars.
The top 10 list comprises of six male and four female stars this year.
It may come as no surprise that Gary Lineker has been named as the BBC’s highest earner – taking home around £1.35 million in 2022-23, which is the same amount as the previous year.
Lineker’s ongoing presenting work on Match Of The Day, Sports Personality Of The Year, the World Cup, and the FA Cup lead to him keeping hold of the top spot on the list.
Image: BBCImage: BBCImage: BBC
BBC Radio 2 breakfast show presenter Zoe Ball is second on the list, again with an unchanged salary and earning between £980,000 and £984,999, while the rest of the top five is made up of former footballer turned sports presenter Alan Shearer, BBC News’ Huw Edwards, and BBC Radio 5 Live’s Stephen Nolan.
Other notable names on the top 10 list include former BBC News and current Question Time and Antiques Roadshow presenter Fiona Bruce, BBC Radio 1 and BBC Radio 2 breakfast show presenters Greg James and Ken Bruce.
Ken Bruce is new to the top 10, along with Lauren Laverne and Sophie Raworth, and they enter the list in the place of Steve Wright, Vanessa Feltz, and Scott Mills – who all departed from their respective BBC shows within the last year.
Top 10 Highest-Paid BBC Presenters 2022-23
Gary Lineker – £1,350,000
Zoe Ball – £980,000
Alan Shearer – £445,000
Huw Edwards – £435,000
Stephen Nolan – £400,000
Fiona Bruce – £395,000
Greg James – £395,000
Ken Bruce – £390,000
Lauren Laverne – £390,000
Sophie Raworth – £365,000
Away from the top 10, other famous top earners include George Alagiah, Naga Munchetty, Amol Rajan, Laura Kuenssberg, Nicky Campbell, and Victoria Derbyshire.
As well as on-screen stars, the annual report also includes salary details for bosses within the corporation – the BBC’s director-general Tim Davie taking home between £525,000 and £529,999 in 2022-23.
Six male and four female stars make up this year’s highest earners / Credit: BBC
Speaking on the publishing of the annual list, Tim Davie said: “I am proud of the content we have delivered, from royal programming to wonderful sporting moments and coverage of the Ukraine war… [but] it remains a period of change, financial pressures, and great competition in the media market.
“Our task is not always easy and we have to make some difficult choices.
“But these are challenges we must embrace as we know that the BBC is needed now more than ever, in an age of polarisation and increasing disinformation.”
A Yorkshire-born and bred artist and his creative team have earned the huge honour of creating the official FIFA scarf collection for this year's World Cup.
Nothing short of massive for anyone from our part of the world.
The local legend in question is Tom Pitts, who was born in Sheffield and is now based just beyond Leeds, leading the campaign right from the helm.
Hand Drawn Pixels is a graphic design and digital studio based in Otley, and while you'll see plenty of folks wearing football shirts and even the odd scarf on the town's famous pub crawl, these lot are venturing on an entirely different kind of run this summer.
In fact, the work has very much already started, with Tom and co. collaborating directly with FIFA and US manufacturers, Global Scarves, to create the World Cup collection.
With this year's tournament obviously taking place across America, Mexico and Canada, they've joined up with a big LLC, but they describe themselves as "a true English custom scarf company with American parents."
In their words, "We knit scarves for clients all over the world", with a presence both near Leeds and over in Seattle, Washington.
The fixtures themselves kick off next month (England's first game coming against Croatia on 17 June), and so Hand Drawn Pixels have been hard at work meeting the briefs for each of the nations taking part.
Here's a quick breakdown of how the opportunity came about, their vision for the project, and how everything starts for them as a whole process.
You can see more of their work HERE, but as the brand name would suggest, it's pretty simple to begin with: nothing more than a pencil.
It's worth noting that the 2026 World Cup also featured the largest number of teams in the competition's history: 48 qualified national squads, to be exact. So, technically, they've had even more designing to do than they theoretically would have in any of the previous years, too.
Tom confessed that winning this bid is obviously a big deal on its own and that seeing his creations being worn in person by supporters at the stadiums will be a "surreal" experience.
Speaking exclusively with The Hoot, he said: "It’s been an amazing creative challenge for us to truly reflect the individuality and diversity of the nations competing in this prestigious tournament on such an iconic product as the football scarf."
He went on to add that "the whole project has been a huge learning experience, gaining deeper cultural insight into every nation involved."
We can't wait to cast eyes upon a sea of colour and finely crafted fabric in unique but somehow universally familiar patterns, all designed right here in 'God's Own Country'.
Pretty Woman The Musical will be returning to the stage in Leeds next year
Emily Sergeant
“Big night out. Big. HUGE.”
This is your chance to experience one of Hollywood’s best-loved romcoms of all time, as following a record-breaking run in the West End and a sell-out first UK tour in 2023, Pretty Woman The Musical is heading back out the road again next year, and it’ll be taking to one of Leeds' most iconic stages.
With direction and choreography by two-time Tony Award winner Jerry Mitchell, an original score by Grammy winner Bryan Adams and Jim Vallance, and a book by the movie’s legendary director Garry Marshall and screenwriter J.F. Lawton, it’s no wonder Pretty Woman The Musical is one of the most popular productions of the 21st century.
Image: Supplied
Just like the 1990 film of the same name, Pretty Woman The Musical tells the story of Vivian and Edward, two unlikely soulmates who overcome all odds to find each other… and themselves.
The musical – which is described as being a ‘dazzlingly joyous love story for the ages’ – lets you experience all the moments you know and love from the movie, all while getting to know these iconic characters in a whole new way.
Image: Supplied
Stopping off at Leeds Grand Theatre next summer, the show will be in our city from 27 July through to 31 July 2027, before visiting other northern cities like York, Sunderland, Hull, and Liverpool, as well as major locations like Birmingham, Edinburgh, and Cardiff.
You can find out more about when to buy your tickets for Pretty Woman at Leeds Grand Theatre here.
Emily Sergeant -
12th July 2023 
