THE BBC has revealed its highest earning employees – with two Bolton and Bury presenters making the list.

Mark Radcliffe and Victoria Derbyshire's annual salaries made the cut, with a pay bracket of between £200,000 and £249,999.

Radcliffe, who was born in Bolton, presents the weekly programme The Folk Show on BBC Radio 2.

The 59 year-old musician and writer also co-hosts a weekday afternoon show, Radcliffe and Maconie with Stuart Maconie, on BBC Radio 6 Music.

The list highlights a huge gender pay gap, with women making up only a third of the top 96 earners.

Derbyshire’s current affairs and debate programme, Victoria Derbyshire, has been broadcast on BBC Two and the BBC News Channel since 2015.

Derbyshire, who was born in Ramsbottom, formerly presented the morning news, current affairs and interview programme on BBC Radio 5 Live each weekday.

BBC director general, Tony Hall told Radio 4's Today programme that the BBC had reduced its spending on top talent by 25 per cent in the past four years and 10 per cent since last year, when 109 people took home a total of £31 million.

He said: “I completely understand that to lots and lots of people these are very large sums, but we are a global broadcaster in a very competitive market and we have to be competitive - but not foolishly.

"No-one would want us to be paying sums where it's not at a discount on the market. People expect us to have great broadcasters, great presenters, great stars, but pay them less than they would get on the market. Getting that discount right is very important."

Lord Hall described the publication of top salaries, which was opposed by the BBC, as a "bad idea" because it could tempt other broadcasters with deep pockets to poach stars creating an inflationary effect on pay.

Bolton-born Sara Cox, who hosts Sounds of the 80s on BBC Radio 2, did not feature on the list.

Neither did presenter and journalist Clive Myrie, from Bolton, who works as London world affairs correspondent and presenter for BBC News.

BBC pay - Chris Evans, Gary Linekar and Graham Norton among top earners

The highest earner is Chris Evans, who earns up to £2.5 million.

Cox occasionally stands in for him on his breakfast show.

The top 10 earners, in brackets of £50,000, are:

1. Chris Evans - £2,200,000 - £2,249,999

2. Gary Lineker - £1,750,000 - £1,799,999

3. Graham Norton - £850,000 - £899,999

4. Jeremy Vine - £700,000 - £749,999

5. John Humphrys - £600,000 - £649,999

6. Huw Edwards - £550,000 - £599,999

7. Steve Wright - £500,000 - £549,999

8. Matt Baker - £450,000 - £499,999

= Claudia Winkleman - £450,000 - £499,999

10. Nicky Campbell - £400,000 - £449,999

= Alex Jones - £400,000 - £449,999

= Andrew Marr - £400,000 - £449,999

= Stephen Nolan - £400,000 - £449,999

= Alan Shearer - £400,000 - £449,999