The BBC's annual report has laid bare the corporation's pay disparities, with Gary Lineker topping the earnings table at £1.35 million despite his recent departure from Match of the Day.
The former England striker's salary dwarfed that of his successor Mark Chapman, who earned £325,000 last year - more than £1 million less than Lineker.
Radio 2's Zoe Ball secured second place with £515,000 before her exit, whilst Alan Shearer rounded out the top three with £440,000, boosted by his Euro 2024 coverage.
The report revealed significant pay rises for several presenters. Greg James saw his earnings increase to £425,000, whilst Nick Robinson's salary jumped to £410,000.
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New Radio 2 host Vernon Kay entered the top ten with £390,000, joining nine other Radio 2 presenters on the high earners list.
Director-General Tim Davie faced intense scrutiny over the MasterChef scandal during the annual report presentation.
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An investigation by law firm Lewis Silkin found 45 out of 83 accusations against former host Gregg Wallace were corroborated.
The BBC confirmed Wallace was told "we have no plans to work with him in future".
Hours after the report's release, current MasterChef host John Torode publicly admitted he is subject to an allegation of racist language.
Despite the controversy, Davie insisted MasterChef would continue regardless of who hosts it.
"I absolutely think it does. I think a great programme well loved by audiences is bigger than individuals. It can survive and prosper," he stated.
The director-general emphasised there was "no place" for inappropriate behaviour at the corporation.
The BBC also faced criticism over its Gaza documentary "Gaza: How To Survive A Warzone", which Ofcom is investigating after it violated the broadcaster's editorial guidelines on accuracy.
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Getty | Gary Lineker left the BBC after a number of social media controversiesFurther controversy arose from the corporation's Glastonbury coverage last month. The BBC livestreamed a performance by punk duo Bob Vylan where they chanted "death to the IDF", sparking widespread condemnation.
When questioned about these incidents alongside the MasterChef chaos, Davie admitted the BBC was in a "tough period".
"It's certainly been a tough period, and there are some tough days. And this job is not one you take if you want a quiet life or a stress free existence," he acknowledged.
The director-general maintained he was the right person to lead the corporation through these challenges.
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Davie defended his leadership when asked if he had considered resigning.
"I simply think I'm in a place where I can work to improve dramatically the BBC and lead it in the right way," he said.
He outlined his commitment to maintaining standards despite the challenges. "We will make mistakes, but I think as a leadership and myself, I've been very clear, and I think we have been decisive.
"These are not easy choices. I think bluntly, there are easier choices we could make, but by saying that, and by standing for that, I think there are moments when you have to do tough things, deal with mistakes and get through it because you want to maintain your standards."