Following the release of the figures, director general of the BBC Tony Hall defended Evans’ pay by pointing out the BBC has to compete with commercial TV channels that pay stars considerably more: “Chris Evans is presenting the most popular show on the most popular radio network in Europe.

“The BBC does not exist in a market on its own where it can set the market rates. If we are to give the public what they want, then we have to pay for those great presenters and stars.”

Many also pointed to examples in the broadcaster’s sports coverage, with the wage of former footballer Gary Lineker standing somewhere between £1.75m and £1.8m and that of Clare Balding revealed as being between £150,000 to £199,999.

The top seven earners (all on more than £500,000) are white men, and of the full list of 96 top-earners, only a third are women and just 10 are from a BAME (black, Asian, minority ethnic) background.

Newsreader George Alagiah, sports presenter Jason Mohammad and DJ Trevor Nelson were the only people from a BAME background on the list to earn over £250,000.

Claudia Winkleman is the BBC’s best-paid female star (on a quarter of Chris Evans’ wage)