Journalist, BBC presenter, and former London World Affairs Correspondent
The BBC’s annual salaries list shows Scott Mills as the highest-paid on-air star for 2025–26, following his sacking in March amid a police probe into historical offences. Several long-time earners have departed, while others remain and new leadership roles at radio and TV are highlighted.
The BBC has highlighted a funding crisis as licence-fee income declines and audience habits shift. The corporation is exploring options from subscriptions to a universal levy while warning that current funding may not sustain its public-service mission. With 23.3 million licences active and around 80% of households paying, the BBC is under pressure to reinvent its funding model before the 2027 charter renewal.
The BBC has cancelled Celebrity Mastermind, Blankety Blank and Live at the Apollo as part of cost-saving measures. The main Mastermind series will continue with Clive Myrie, while the celebrity spin-off ends after the next filmed series. The BBC cites funding challenges and ongoing savings targets across entertainment, with further cuts anticipated.