University Challenge host Amol Rajan tops list of moonlighting BBC stars with £115k in events fees

UNIVERSITY Challenge host Amol Rajan has topped the list of moonlighting BBC stars – raking in an eye-watering £115k in event fees. The Today programme presenter, 43, earned the sum, in addition to his £320,000 annual salary, from just 13 events. Amol Rajan raked in an eye-watering £115k in external event fees Credit: AP The Today programme presenter earned the sum – in addition to his £320,000 annual salary Credit: BBC Rajan – who announced in January that he would be stepping down from the Radio 4 show – pipped co-star Justin Webb to the top spot. They both received thousands of pounds for engagements including speaking or judging duties, according to the BBC‘s external events register. Sign up for the TV newsletter Thank you! BBC News world affairs editor John Simpson and Mastermind host Clive Myrie also scooped more than £40,000 each in addition to their salaries. Beeb chairman Samir Shah has previously hinted that money received for external engagements could impact the stars’ annual pay reviews. Justin Webb – whose salary sits around £375,000 – came in second with at least £52,000 in extra earnings Credit: BBC Mastermind host Clive Myrie also scooped more than £40,000 outside his salary Credit: Alamy The register shows bands for sums paid – “Below £1k”, “£1k – £5k”, “£5k – £10k” or “Over £10k” – rather than exact amounts. It shows more than £650,000 was paid out to BBC staff for external engagements from April 2025 to March 2026. Raja was paid more than £10,000 for 12 of the 13 events he attended, including for Euromoney and Virgin Media O2. This is also on top of his University Challenge fee, which is not publicly disclosed because it is produced by an independent company. Most read in TV Webb – whose salary sits around £375,000 – came in second with at least £52,000, but he did not receive more than £10,000 for any single events. In third, John Simpson earned at least £43,000 from outside work, while Clive Myrie bagged £41,000 from eight engagements. Further down the list, fellow Radio 4 presenter Nick Robinson earned an additional £25,000 – tied with Europe editor Katya Adler. BBC Breakfast presenter Naga Munchetty took home an extra £21,000 from work outside the morning programme. BBC Breakfast presenter Naga Munchetty took home an extra £21,000 Credit: Getty Top ten moonlighting Beeb stars Amol Rajan: £115,000+ Justin Webb: £52,000 to £111,000 John Simpson: £43,000+ Clive Myrie: £41,000+ Maryam Moshiri: £31,000+ Katya Adler: £25,000+ Nick Robinson: £25,000+ Dharshini David: £22,000-£50,000 Naga Munchetty: £21,000+ Jeremy Bowen: £20,000+ It comes after it was revealed she had received a £10k pay boost in the annual pay figures – despite being embroiled in a bullying probe. The Beeb chairman told The Sunday Times that presenters who rake in extra cash could see their salaries reduced. Mr Shah said: “They make a lot of money out of presenting for the BBC, in my view. “Maybe their view is they don’t. But they leverage… the fact that they present on the BBC [to get] gigs outside.” It comes as the BBC announces plans to slash spending by £80million over the next two years. The corporation’s new director general Matt Brittin, 57, told staff in an email the savings would see shows cancelled and jobs axed. It is understood the cuts will contribute to some of the 2,000 job losses expected to come over the next three years. Around 550 positions will be cut in the BBC’s news and nations divisions. Some 700 roles will also close in the BBC’s corporate divisions, the director general warned. A BBC spokesperson said: “The register was introduced in 2021 and details paid-for external work by staff in on-air journalism roles and senior leaders. “The vast majority of staff events in this quarter involved payments of £5k or less at 93% of all events disclosed, and 64% were below £1k. “All of these events were approved in line with the BBC’s rigorous guidelines prior to being undertaken, ensuring there was no conflict of interest with their work – perceived or otherwise.” Comment now