Scott Mills was highest paid BBC presenter before he was fired
Scott Mills (Image: Getty Images)
Scott Mills was the BBC’s highest-paid on-air presenter in 2025/26, earning £745,000–£749,999 in the year before he was sacked from Radio 2 in March.
The figure appears in the BBC’s annual report for the year ending March 2026. Mills was sacked just before the end of the financial year, so the figure published represents almost his full annual BBC earnings.
Mills, who is married to Sam Vaughan, took over Radio 2’s Breakfast Show from Zoe Ball in January 2025. In the previous year’s report, he earned £355,000–£359,999.
The BBC only publishes the names and pay bands of stars and executives who earn above £178,000, and the list does not include those paid via independent production companies or the BBC’s commercial arm, BBC Studios.
Why Mills was sacked
Mills was sacked in March after it was revealed he had been accused of historical sexual offences. He co-operated with a police investigation and was never charged. The investigation was launched in 2016 and closed in 2019 as prosecutors decided there was not enough evidence to bring charges.
In a statement in April, Mills said: “The recent announcement that I am no longer contracted to the BBC has led to the publication of rumour and speculation.” He added: “An allegation was made against me in 2016 of a historic sexual offence which was the subject of a police investigation in which I fully cooperated and responded to in 2018.”
Other key names on the list
Greg James was the second highest paid presenter on the list, earning £440,000.
In fourth place was Laura Kuenssberg, the highest paid woman on the list, with £405,000. Vernon Kay rounded out the top five, also on £405,000.
Gay presenter Nick Grimshaw was paid £335,000-£339,999 for his work on the Sidetracked podcast and 6 Music Breakfast shows.
