BBC publishes list of stars' salaries, revealing a disturbing trend.

With AAP. 

The BBC has revealed the salaries of its top stars, including radio and television hosts, with presenters Chris Evans and Gary Lineker among the highest earners.

The move came after a plan to keep employees pay secret was blocked by government ministers. They have shared the salaries of only those earning more than £150,000 (A$246,000).

As expected, the data showed most of the big earners are men.

Chris Evans, who has worked across radio and TV for the BBC, including as a Top Gear host was the highest-earning star and the only one in the STG2,220,000 to STG2,250,000 (up to $A3,698,540) bracket.

Evans placed above talk-show host Graham Norton, who earned between STG850,000 and STG900,000 (up to A$1.47 million).

The top-earning woman in the “multi-genre” category was Claudia Winkelman, in the STG450,000 to STG449,000 (up to A$738,900) bracket.

The earnings are for talent paid out of the BBC’s STG3.8 billion licence fee and not for those working for independent producers making BBC shows or for BBC Worldwide.

Gary Lineker, the former soccer player and presenter of Match of the Day was by some distance the top earner in the sports category, making between STG1,750,000 and STG1,800,000.

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Wimbledon presenter Sue Barker was the top-earning woman in sports, earning between STG300,000 and STG349,000.

Australian Dannii Minogue was named as earning between £200,000 and £249,999 (up to $A410,000) as a contributor. It’s assumed these earnings are for her role as a judge on new talent show Let It Shine.

In entertainment, Alex Jones, presenter of The One Show, earned the most, pulling in between STG400,000 and STG449,000.

The highest-earning actor was Derek Thompson in the STG350,000 to STG400,000 bracket, ahead of Amanda Mealing, on between STG250,000 and STG300, 000. Both are on long running BBC medical drama Casualty.

Two-thirds of the stars earning more STG150,000 are men, fuelling a debate on gender equity at the BBC.

The Corporation committed to equal air time and pay for women by 2020, and for 15 per cent black, Asian and minority ethnic representation.

BBC boss Tony Hall said the broadcaster was doing more than any of its peers to address the gender imbalance.