BBC Presenters' Pay

Allira

Is it a coincidence that the two highest-paid presenters on BBC, Gary Lineker and Zoë Ball, are both to leave the BBC?

Is the BBC listening to the concerns of licence-payers?

Will the reduction in outgoings mean a cut in licence fees or will they simply pay someone else the same high salary?

Yes, it’s a coincidence. Zoe is definitely quitting the breakfast show for personal reasons, she was talking about it openly on her show this morning.

I guess someone will have to step into their shoes. Let's hope they are less arrogant than GL about what they are worth.

I'ma bit confused by Zoe Ball saying something about listening to the show while doing the school run? She has one child of 25 and one of 15. My children at age 15 took the bus with friends. Who wants to be taken in by mum?

Zoe's replacement is the guy from Race across the World isn't he? I liked him. (His husband was an awful moaner though).

Scott Mills. He has his own Radio 2 show already in the afternoon. He’s being replaced in the afternoons by Trevor Nelson, who has an evening show.

Gary Lineker isn’t leaving the BBC he is leaving Match Of The Day. He will be doing commentary for the BBC at the 2026 World Cup and other international matches.

True, Zoe isn’t leaving either.

escaped

I guess someone will have to step into their shoes. Let's hope they are less arrogant than GL about what they are worth.

I'ma bit confused by Zoe Ball saying something about listening to the show while doing the school run? She has one child of 25 and one of 15. My children at age 15 took the bus with friends. Who wants to be taken in by mum?

Depends where you live, what the bus service is like and if it is convenient and maybe health issues of child. I used to drop my teenage kids near school as the bus pass was extortionate for someone with 4 kids and their school was basically on my route to work, they did walk a short distance when I dropped them. Getting home varied with after school activities, if I was available etc.

The school bus never waited for pupils attending after after
activities

Eh? How can after-school activities be during the breakfast show?!
Not that it matters.

I think Zoe lost her mother recently, possibly a reason, as we know bereavement can often knock people for six.

The transport costs of before and after school was part of the decision about if paying for the bus pass was valued for money. I thought that would be obvious. If they'd always need to get a bus home the calculation would have been different.

escaped

Zoe's replacement is the guy from Race across the World isn't he? I liked him. (His husband was an awful moaner though).

Yes, I liked him too.

So probably a coincidence then, Casdon.

I do think it’s a coincidence, I listen to Zoe often, and she’s had a really tough time over the last few years. She divorced, her new partner committed suicide, her mum died, and she was very open about the difficulties she was having with the menopause. She took some weeks off a couple of months ago, and it’s obvious she’s been struggling. Getting up at 4.30am for years must be hard when you’re under par - I think she reached a point where she just couldn’t keep doing it.

I thought it was about pay! Its ridiculous. Along with that of influencers, celebs and footballers etc.

I don't think either are leaving the BBC.

I won't miss Zoe. Find her irritating and speaks at an infuriatingly fast speed. Think Scott Mills will be more pleasant to listen to early morning.

And I think he will be the highest paid person on Radio 2.

Zoe Ball lives in Brighton and ex husband in Hove. If their daughter is with either parent she will be well served by the local bus service to get to school. If as I expect she attends a local private school she will probably have paid for mini bus collection.
Whatever Zoe Balls reason for moving from early morning radio presenting to another time I sure the school run isn’t it.

Do the school run? Really, so how have the kids got to school up to now? rubbish. There's more to this I'm sure.

Neither of was worth their salary. I never watched match of the day, nor listened to Zoe Ball.

Breakfast television and breakfast radio shows are hard work for the presenters. Even if they live fairly close to the studios, they still have to arrive at least an hour before their programme starts, talk through the schedule with the producer, and try to sound totally chipper and full of life, even if they're probably shattered. I admire Terry Wogan for keeping up this routine until he was 71.

mabon1

Neither of was worth their salary. I never watched match of the day, nor listened to Zoe Ball.

If you have bever watched either of them how can you say that

mabon1

Neither of was worth their salary. I never watched match of the day, nor listened to Zoe Ball.

Surely the viewer numbers are what is important, rather than whether you watch/listen mabon.
For what it’s worth, I think the breakfast show will continue to flourish with Scott Mills, but Match of the Day is really going to struggle without Gary Lineker. He really is the best, and whatever non football fans think, you have to pay for the best to get the viewers.