TV presenter Graham Norton is not on the BBC’s list of highest paid on-air presenters for the second year in a row.
The BAFTA-winning star (59), who reportedly celebrated his wedding last weekend in his native Cork, was not included in the broadcaster’s ‘top ten’ list in the annual report for 2021/2022.
He retired from his Saturday Radio 2 show in December 2020 after ten years to join Virgin Radio UK, which he currently presents from his home in west Cork.
His award-winning Friday night chat show is produced by BBC Studios, which is considered a commercial entity and is therefore exempt from the list.
Northern Ireland BBC presenter Stephen Nolan is now Ireland’s highest paid presenter with the Beeb and is fifth on the top earners list with a salary of €489,000 (£415,000). This was an increase of €11,800 or £10,000 from the previous year’s winnings where he was number six on the list.
One of the most famous presenters, Mr Nolan, leads shows for BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Radio 5 Live, as well as his hard hitting TV show ‘Nolan Live on BBC One’. He also hosts the podcast series ‘Nolan Investigates’.
The past year saw a massive exodus of presenters from the station, including Emily Maitlis, who left Newsnight last February. But the two biggest earners remain unchanged. Former footballer and pundit Gary Lineker has retained his title as the BBC’s highest paid presenter for the fifth consecutive year. He made €1.59 million (£1.35 million) last year for hosting Match of the Day and for his coverage of Euro 2020.
In second place was Radio 2 Breakfast Show presenter Zoe Ball, who took home €1.15 million or £980,000 and is one of three women in the ‘top ten’ list.
In joint third place on the list were former football star Alan Shearer and DJ Steve Wright with the same income of €530,000 (£450,000).
Huw Edwards and Fiona Bruce both made €483,000 (£410,000) last year, while Scott Mills and Vanessa Feltz were both listed with €471,000 (£400,000). Radio 1 presenter Greg James was in tenth place with €459,000 (£390,000).
Other Irish names on the list include journalist Orla Guerin, whose position on the list was unchanged with a profit of €189,000, along with the BBC’s special correspondent Fergal Keane. His salary was slightly higher than last year and stands at € 248,000.
The released figures only include work for the BBC’s public service elements.
Actors and presenters working on shows for the BBC’s commercial production division are excluded, including Norton.
Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries announced earlier this year that the BBC’s license fee will be frozen below inflation for the next two years.