CATCH OF THE DAY

Gary Lineker to take 23% pay cut next year in new BBC deal and jokes ‘my thoughts are with the haters’

GARY Lineker is set to take a 23 per cent pay cut next year in a new BBC deal - and today joked "my thoughts are with the haters".

The BBC announced he signed a five year contract with the corporation today as they revealed the wages of all their best paid stars.

He tweeted a link to the story, adding: "Oh dear. Thoughts are with the haters at this difficult time."

BBC director-general Tim Davie said: "He has done so at a saving of nearly a quarter over his last contract.

"And this is a great example of giving audiences both the best talent and the best value."

Lineker was once again the BBC's top earner, according to new figures, but he is taking a pay cut of £405,000 to drop his salary to £1.35m.

An announcement today said the Match Of The Day host is reducing his salary next year

The names of BBC talent earning more than £150,000 a year have been published, a move previously instigated by the Government.

Lineker took £1.75million, according to the figures, which cover the period until the end of March this year - before any cut.

The BBC previously opposed the publication of salaries as a "poacher's charter", but then-boss Lord Hall later said he welcomed the "transparency".

SALARY REVEAL

The salaries are being published amid questions about how the BBC will be funded in future.

The licence fee model is guaranteed until December 31 2027, the end of the current charter.

It comes as Zoe Ball has bagged nearly a £1million pay rise, the BBC revealed today, as Huw Edwards and Alan Shearer's wages are cut after the gender pay gap backlash.