Zoe Ball has confirmed that she will be paid less than Chris Evans for her new role as host of the Radio 2 breakfast show
The 47-year-old was announced as the replacement for the former Top Gear presenter early this morning. Calling it an “honour and privilege” to take over the highly-coveted position, while it’s a much lauded role it sounds as if she isn’t going to be compensated in the same way as Evans.
Speaking to BBC News, Ball said that she does not expect the same pay as the show’s former host, who was the BBC’s second highest-earning employee in 2017 with a annual salary of £1.6 million.
“I’m definitely not expecting the same,” she said. “But I have to say we’ve discussed fees and I’m very, very happy with what the BBC are paying. If it’ll all come out one day, as these things tend to, I hope people say, ‘that’s fair.'”
Last year she earned between £250,000 and £299,000 for her work on the BBC.
With a long presenting career, which began in the 1990s when she hosted Channel 4’s The Big Breakfast and BBC One children’s programme Live & Kicking, Ball is no stranger to the limelight.
Moving across to radio in 1997, becoming the first female presenter of the Radio 1 breakfast show alongside Kevin Greening, she began presenting as a stand-in on Radio 2 in 2006, having her own Saturday morning show between 2009 and 2012.
“To be the first woman to present this very special show is both an honour and privilege,” she said on taking over from Evans.
“Believe me, I’m not underestimating the enormity of the task ahead, to follow not one but two of my broadcasting idols, into such a well-loved show is somewhat daunting.”
The Radio 2 breakfast show, under Evans’ tenure as host, has become one of the most listened to morning shows in the UK, attracting on average 9 million listeners every morning.
