Scott Mills’ will earn less than half of the salary of his predecessor Zoe Ball as he takes over her BBC Radio 2 breakfast show.

Scott, 51, is reportedly taking a small pay rise and will earn £450,000 a year which is far below Zoe’s £950,000. 

The dramatic pay difference comes as BBC bosses are under ‘enormous pressure’ to cut back on costs but Scott reportedly is ‘thrilled’ with the gig despite the money.

A source told The Sun: ‘The BBC is under enormous pressure to start making significant savings.

‘BBC Director General Tim Davie is making it quietly known that the days of the huge seven figure salaries for its golden girls and boys are over.

Scott Mills’ will earn less than half of predecessor Zoe Ball as he is set to take over her BBC Radio 2 breakfast show

Scott, 51, is reportedly taking a small pay rise and will earn £450,000 a year which is seriously below Zoe’s £950,000

‘But it’s a real balancing act since, as a public broadcaster it needs, and wants, to attract top talent.

‘The fear is stars, already fed up of public scrutiny when their salaries are published, may defect to the streamers, or ITV.

‘Scott, though, was genuinely thrilled to get the gig. He didn’t even ask about a pay rise.’

On Tuesday, Zoe announced on air that she will be leaving the primetime show in December after six years but remaining on the station – and listeners have been responding to news of her successor with a blend of complaints and congratulations.

Zoe – who replaced Chris Evans in 2019 – took a break from hosting her show over the summer before returning in September.

Announcing the news on her show, she said: ‘After six years of fun times alongside you all on the breakfast show, I’ve decided it’s time to step away from the early alarm call and start a new chapter.’

Zoe said she was ‘thrilled’ to reveal Scott as her replacement, telling listeners: ‘Scott and I go way back to our Radio 1 days, when he was doing early mornings before me. He’s been a close friend for years, and I’m beyond thrilled it’s him taking over the Breakfast Show.

‘Breakfast has always been his dream, and what a year he’s had – from racing around the world to his beautiful wedding to Sam. He’s not only a blooming brilliant producer but one of the best in radio. I can’t wait to tune in on the school run!’.

The dramatic pay difference comes as BBC bosses are under ‘enormous pressure’ to cut back on costs but Scott reportedly is ‘thrilled’ with the gig despite the money

Zoe said she was ‘thrilled’ to reveal Scott as her replacement after she took over the show in 2019 from Chris Evans

Reaction on social media has been mixed, however, with one listener branding him ‘such a terrible replacement’ while another called this morning’s announcement ‘horrific news’.

Others have vowed to switch off as a result, with one saying it was ‘time to find another station’.

Read MoreBREAKING NEWS Fans divided over Zoe Ball’s BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show replacement

Yet others have been more favourable, with responses including ‘fantastic news’ and offering ‘huge congratulations’ while describing him as ‘equally talented’ to Zoe.

Scott joined his friend on her show and said he was ‘beyond excited’ to be taking over.

He said: ‘Zoe and I have been such good friends now for over 25 years and have spent much of that time as part of the same radio family here at Radio 2 and also on Radio 1. She’s done an incredible job on this show over the past six years, and I am beyond excited to be handed the baton.

‘It feels ever since recording my first shows as a kid for an audience of one, my mum, all roads since have led to this amazing opportunity. It really is a lifelong dream come true to follow in the footsteps of Sir Terry, Chris and Zoe to be the new presenter of the Radio 2 Breakfast Show.’

Zoe was the first female host of the Radio 1 Breakfast Show in 1998, a post she held until 2000.

She also co-hosted the BBC’s Saturday morning children’s magazine Live & Kicking alongside Jamie Theakston for three years from 1996.