BBC forced to disclose which on-screen stars earn more than £150,000

Current data suggests that 109 people at the corporation will have their salaries revealed

The BBC headquarters at New Broadcasting House (Oli Scarff/Getty Images)

The BBC will now be required to provide details including names of those on-screen earning more than £150,000, after new Government reforms.

Current data suggests that 109 people at the BBC will have their salaries revealed.

The move by Culture Secretary Karen Bradley follows her predecessor John Whittingdale's suggestion that the names of those earning £450,000 should be made public.

A Government source said: “Licence fee payers have a right to know where their money goes. By making the BBC more transparent it will help deliver savings that then can be invested in even more great programmes.”

Strictly Come Dancing presenter Claudia Winkleman said she was supportive of stars having their salaries revealed.

“I’m all for it. I totally understand it. We’re working for the public, so why shouldn’t they know?” She told the Sun.

At the moment the BBC discloses how much its highest paid stars get in anonymous wide income bands.

There are currently seven people who appear onscreen who earn between £500,000 and £5 million a year.

The BBC has been highly critical of the announcement and has said this will allow competitors to poach their best-known names, the Guardian reported.