The BBC revealed today that it paid its top presenters £229 million last year, in a move widely seen as an attempt to quell growing disquiet over the pay packets of its biggest stars.
The figures showed it paid those artists, musicians and presenters earning over £100,000 a year £70 million - a quarter of the total cost - which represents 6.5 per cent of the licence fee.
The BBC said it was the first time in its history it had made the figures public as part of its drive and "commitment to greater transparency."
However, it refused to reveal who had pocketed the salaries, citing reasons relating to data protection and contract confidentiality.
"If we did that, it could drive wage bills up as employees compared their takings and we wouldn't want costs to rise for the licence-fee payer," a spokeswoman said.
The disclosure came a day after BBC Trust chairman, Michael Lyons, pledged to curb the "excessive salaries" paid to senior executives and top talent at the corporation.
Speaking to the Guardian newspaper he said the BBC had relaxed its grip on editorial and financial accounting over the past decade.
The corporation has provoked public anger over how much it pays its top talent, including the revelation it paid Jonathan Ross £6 million a year.
It broke down wages into bands, with entertainers earning between £50,000 and £100,000 a year earning a total of £44 million.
The corporation also disclosed online the business-related expenses of 107 its most senior decision-makers. The full report can be found on the BBC website.
BBC director general Mark Thomson is due to publish the results of a strategic review next month, which is expected to usher in radical changes to its size over the next two years.
Reuters