Gary Lineker BBC salary 'unjustifiable' as Des Lynam makes feelings clear on MOTD replacement's pay
Gary Lineker's wages have been branded "unjustifiable" by Des Lynam
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Former Match of the Day presenter Des Lynam, 81, has opened up on what he thinks about Gary Lineker's staggering BBC salary and claimed that it can't be "justified".
As part of its annual report and accounts, the BBC is required to publish a list of individuals, both on-air and off-air, who received more than £178,000 from license fee revenue over the past 12 months.
Lineker took home a pay packet of £1,350,000 - £1,354,999, according to the report which provides figures which "include payments from license fee revenue during the year ended 31 March 2024, excluding any recharges, amounts paid and investments into programmes made by our commercial entities – for example BBC Studios".
It also explains: "Payments made by independent producers, royalties, repeat fees, contractual and other recoverables and expenses are also excluded."
The 64-year-old's work at the broadcaster includes his commitments to Match of the Day as well as Premier League, FA Cup and Sports Personality of the Year coverage.
Lynam, who worked on Match of the Day for 10 years, discussed his view on Lineker's role and his salary and told Radio Times: "He wasn't comfortable (as a pundit) at the beginning.
Des Lynam worked on Match of the Day from 1988 to 1999
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"When I left, he immediately got the job and he grew into it very rapidly. I know he's not everyone's cup of tea, but for my money, I think he does a first-class job.
"I don't suppose you can justify it in terms of what a nurse or fireman does, but it's the market - that's what the BBC feel they have to pay to get his services.
"You can't say that anybody saying a few words into a television screen is worth more than someone who saves lives, but money dictates. He's a very lucky chap.
"He's had two great careers and the second one is helped along by the fact that he had the first one," he noted, with Lynam earning an average of £2,030 in 1969, during his time with the channel.
Gary Lineker admitted he found it "uncomfortable" to discuss his wages
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Lineker has admitted in the past that he feels "uncomfortable" when it comes to discussing his salary at the BBC and told The Guardian: "It’s a difficult one because of the license fee, but we should push what great value we offer.
"That’s hard because you get the 'we pay your wages' thing and nowadays they publish the salaries and I’m at the top of that. That does make me uncomfortable. I’m in a genre that pays really well, that delivers the biggest audiences, where people fight for your services."
He went on to admit that he himself can’t justify his salary and added: "I'm unique in presenting having played at the top level and worked really hard to get here.
"But can I justify my salary against a nurse? No. Obviously not. That’s not how it works, though. Could I have earned more elsewhere? Absolutely. But I’ve always loved working with the BBC.
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Des Lynam praised Gary Lineker's work
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"It’s a rocky ride because of the love‑hate relationship some have with the corporation."
Many have slammed Lineker's salary, including GB News presenter Emily Carver to explained recently: "That is what annoys me. It’s not that he is paid this much money, which of course is irritating because we all fund it.
"It’s because he is all grandstanding about morals and all that."