BBC reveals top earners and gender-pay gap with newly released pay disclosures

Former Top Gear host Chris Evans is the company's top earner, falling in the £2.2-2.49 million pay bracket. Match of the Day's Gary Lineker is the second highest earner, making £1.75-1.79m.

Evans earns nearly four times more than Strictly Come Dancing host Claudia Winkleman. The number one female earner brings home £450k-500k.

Seven stars on the list who are paid over half a million pounds are all men. The elite group includes radio presenter and quiz show host John Humphrys (£600k-£649k) and BBC Radio 2's Steve Wright(£500k-£549k).

Radio and chat show host Graham Norton receives £850k-£899k.

On the BBC News team, Jeremy Vine earns £700k-749k, ahead of Huw Edwards bringing in £550k-559k.

Fiona Bruce is the highest earning female journalist, making £350k-399k. Of the talent listed in the report, only one-third are women.

Anticipating the onslaught of criticism, BBC Director Tony Hall said the organisation is committed to closing the gender-pay gap. "We’ve set a clear target for 2020, we want all our lead and presenting roles to be equally divided between men and women," he said.

Tony Hall sets out BBC commitment on gender equality: https://t.co/I4NNTDY33K #BBCPay pic.twitter.com/WO1q4AkRaM

— BBC Press Office (@bbcpress) July 19, 2017

This marks the first time the BBC have revealed the earnings of their top employees. They were required to do so as part of their charter renewal negotiations. Originally David Cameron had asked them to list earners above £450k, but Theresa May cut the figure to match her own salary.

The release was due for 11 this morning, but Piers Morgan just couldn't sit on the embargoed document until then. His posted its contents in a series of tweets.

Big fan of the BBC but if you position yourself as the very bastion of equality.. you must practise what you preach. #bbcpay

— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) July 19, 2017

BREAKING: Chris Evans highest paid BBC star: £2.2-2.49m.
(2. Gary Lineker: £1.75-1.79m)
Highest paid woman:
Claudia Winkleman £450k-£499k.

— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) July 19, 2017

Morgan has been criticised for breaking the embargo, but defends his actions as "good journalism."

I'd like to apologise to all fellow journalists I scooped on BBC salary story.
I can't help being this good at my job, unfortunately.

— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) July 19, 2017

BBC has allowed stars to defend their earnings on social media. Gary Lineker took to Twitter, dubbing today "BBC salary day."

Happy BBC salary day. I blame my agent and the other TV channels that pay more. Now where did I put my tin helmet?

— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) July 19, 2017

Presenter Andrew Marr, who confirmed he is paid just over £400k a year, released a statement saying he has turned down offers from rivals, and that his salary has actually decreased £139k over the past two years.

Comments from employees, elected officials and the public pour in on BBC's airwaves today. Meanwhile, lawyers have said BBC could face sex discrimination lawsuits.