Gary Lineker feigns outrage at Chris Evans’ higher wage

Match of The Day presenter Gary Lineker has feigned outrage at the revelation that Chris Evans is paid more than him by the BBC.

The former England international was unveiled as the corporation’s second highest-earner, after TV and radio presenter Evans, following the publication of the BBC’s on-air talent for the first time on Wednesday.

Responding to the release of his £1.75 million plus pay packet, Lineker tweeted: “This whole BBC salary exposure business is an absolute outrage…I mean how can @achrisevans be on more than me?”

Replying to a user who said Lineker’s agent “isn’t pulling his weight”, the former Barcelona, Everton, Leicester and Tottenham star replied: “Yep, not good enough.”

He joined a number of BBC stars in reacting to their salaries being published including Andrew Neil, Andrew Marr, Jeremy Vine and Dan Walker.

Covering the topic on his radio show, Vine was asked by a listener if he was “embarrassed to pick up your pay cheque?”

The broadcaster replied: “I don’t really want to answer that because I don’t think it’s the moment for me.”

He was backed up by the BBC’s director of radio James Purnell, who told Radio 4’s World At One: “Let me defend Jeremy Vine, because it is hard to defend your own salary.

“His programme is massively important for democracy in this country. It costs his listeners less than 1p a week.”

The former political editor said his pay had been steadily decreasing and had dropped £139,000 in the past two years.

And BBC Breakfast presenter Dan Walker reacted to criticism over his pay packet being higher than that of co-presenters Louise Minchin and Naga Munchetty by claiming he receives more because of his additional work on Football Focus.