Cowell tops British TV earners

Pop idol judge Simon Cowell is the highest paid Briton on TV, earning 18 million in the last year.

10:57 04 January 2005

Pop idol judge Simon Cowell is the highest paid Briton on TV, earning 18 million in the last year.

Cowell, who was also judge on talent show the X Factor, made it big as Mr Nasty on Pop Idol both in the UK and in the United States.

He is one of a number of top earning TV personalities who have struck gold Stateside, including actors John Mahoney and Jane Leeves, who star in the US sitcom Frasier.

Blackpool-born Mahoney was ranked second, earning 17.6 million last year, while Leeves, from East Grinstead, Sussex, earned 7.85 million and was put in fourth place.

Only three stars in the top ten British TV earners have made their millions at home in the UK - quiz show presenter Chris Tarrant and comedians Graham Norton and Peter Kay.

Kay's series Phoenix Nights, his ads for John Smith's beer and his Live at the Bolton Albert Halls DVD netted him 4.5 million last year.

Weakest Link host Anne Robinson was in third place with earnings of 10 million, while rocker Ozzy Osbourne's family was ranked fifth with 7 million.

Top telly earners

1 Simon Cowell 18m
2 John Mahoney 17.6m
3 Anne Robinson 10m
4 Jane Leeves 7.85m
5 The Osbournes 7m
6 Graham Norton 6.8m
7 Jerry Springer 6m
8 Jamie Oliver 4.8m
9 Chris Tarrant 4.65m
10 Peter Kay 4.5m