This male BBC star earns £2m more than his female counterpart

The BBC has come under harsh criticism due to the gender pay gap between its most well-paid stars.

The corporation's annual report published today showed the company's highest earners, revealing a considerable gender gap between the 96 stars who are earning over £150,000 per annum. At the top of the list is radio and TV presenter Chris Evans who earned between £2,200,000 and 2,249,999 in 2016/2017. Up there with him are Gary Lineker, Graham Norton, and Jeremy Vine who all made at least £700,000 in the last year. Lineker came second on the list having earned between £1,750,000 and £1,799,999. Strictly Come Dancing presenter Claudia Winkleman is the BBC's highest paid woman, having earned between £450,000 and 499,999 over the past year. Presenters Fiona Bruce and Tess Daly are the next female stars on the list, both earning over £350,000. The BBC is now facing some harsh criticism due to the clear pay divide between genders. Evans and Winkleman are both the highest paid stars of their respective genders, but Evans is making five times the amount of money that Winkleman is. Both BBC employees work in radio and TV, and have been working for the broadcasting company for over 15 years. BBC director general Lord Hall has said that there has "absolutely not" been enough progress with gender equality in the corporation. Speaking to BBCs Radio 4 Today show, he said that the broadcaster needed to go "further and faster" to tackle these issues. However, he also claimed that the BBC is "pushing faster than any other major broadcaster." Presenter and talk show host Piers Morgan disagrees. On Good Morning Britain he stated that the BBC is failing to practice what it preaches in terms of gender equality.

"We are the BBC in reverse! We are a shining example of equality - the women dominate on ITV!"

The broadcaster had been forced to publish its top earners by the British government.