Stephen Nolan has become the BBC's top-earning on-air journalist this year, new figures show.
The host of BBC's Nolan Show saw his pay increase by up to £10,000 to over £415,000, meaning he is still among the BBC’s highest-earning on-air presenters.
That has led to him knocking BBC News at Ten’s Huw Edwards off the top spot for the first time since 2018. Edwards’ salary dropped by around 3%.
Read more: Live BBC Nolan Show off-air after staff 'hit by Covid outbreak'
Joint second best paid in the year alongside Edwards was Question Time’s Fiona Bruce who earned between £410,000 and £414,999.
But in the top spot for on-air journalists was Nolan, 48, who earned between £415,000 and £419,999 from the licence fee in 2021-22, according to the corporation's annual report.
That's up from between £405,000 and £409,999 in 2020-21, however his salary may vary each year depending on when he is actually paid for what he has presented.
The details, published in the BBC's latest annual report, showed that Nolan’s increased salary also makes him the fifth best-paid BBC on-air presenter behind Gary Lineker, Zoe Ball, Alan Shearer and Steve Wright.
Stephen Nolan presents radio shows on Radio Ulster and BBC 5 Live as well as some television work
This salary comes from fronting the popular weekday Nolan Show phone-in programme on BBC Radio Ulster, The Stephen Nolan Show on BBC Radio 5 Live, Nolan Live on BBC One Northern Ireland and the Nolan Investigates Stonewall podcast series.
The BBC's annual report for 2021-22 gives the pay details of its top earning presenters and other staff who earn more than £150,000 from the licence fee in the year.
Meanwhile, the pay of BBC Northern Ireland director Peter Johnston remained at between £195,000 and £199,999 in 2021-22, similar to the previous year.
Mr Johnston is currently leading the delivery of the BBC's impartiality plan and has been replaced as the director of BBC Northern Ireland on an interim basis by Adam Smyth until early 2023.
Gary Lineker is the BBC’s top earning on-air talent for the fifth consecutive year and the only name to earn over £1 million annually, the figures show.
The 61-year-old pundit and former footballer was paid between £1,350,000 and £1,354,999 in 2021/2022 for work including Match Of The Day and Sports Personality Of The Year – a reduction of £10,000 on the previous year.
Lineker first topped the list for 2017/18 with a pay bracket of £1,750,000 to £1,759,999, and in 2020 it was announced he had taken a voluntary pay cut.
Zoe Ball remains the broadcaster’s second highest paid talent, with a salary of £980,000 to £984,999, but figures show her salary falling for a second consecutive year.
Her salary has now slipped to below £1 million and reflects approximately 210 editions of The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show on Radio 2.
Alan Shearer has seen a year-on-year increase of £60,000, bringing his salary to £450,000-£454,999, which puts him joint third with Steve Wright, whose salary this year reflects a £15,000 decrease.
The corporation’s annual report for 2021/22, which also marks its centenary, shows four out of the top 10 best paid names have seen their salaries fall.
The only new addition to the top 10 is Greg James, whose salary has increased by £80,000.
The 36-year-old earns between £390,000 and £394,999 for work including the Radio 1 Breakfast Show, Rewinder on Radio 4, Radio 1’s Big Weekend and Out Out! Live, with Sports Personality Of The Year also listed.
This year’s top 10 features fewer women that last year, dropping from four to three.
Lauren Laverne does not feature in this year’s top 10, with figures showing her salary has fallen by £15,000 to the bracket of £380,000-£384,999.
Other notable increases on the overall list of top earning on-air talent, as shown in the annual report, include Naga Munchetty with a £110,000 increase and Amol Rajan with an increase of £85,000.
Victoria Derbyshire, meanwhile, has seen a £70,000 increase.
Graham Norton is also absent from the list after departing Radio 2 in December 2020 to start a show at Virgin Radio.
The BBC has seen a number of high-profile on-air departures over the last year, with Emily Maitlis, Jon Sopel, Andrew Marr and Dan Walker all leaving for rival broadcasters.
It comes after Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries announced earlier this year that the BBC’s licence fee will be frozen under inflation for the next two years.
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