Sarah Montague, the former host of BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, has revealed she won a £400,000 payout in her fight against discrimination at the BBC.

The settlement by the broadcaster is the latest in its dispute with female members of staff, with as many as 120 women bringing forward equal pay cases.

In a statement on Twitter, the presenter said that she felt she had ‘no option’ but to talk about her pay after reports surfaced about the size of the payment she received from the BBC.

“When I discovered the disparity in my pay and conditions, I was advised that rectifying it all could run into the millions, she said.

“I chose not to seek such sums from the BBC but I did want some recognition that they had underpaid me.

“Last year after a long period of stressful negotiations, I accepted a settlement of £400,000 subject to tax and an apology from the BBC for paying me unequally for so many years.”

Ms Montague, who now presents Radio 4’s The World at One, received the payment following the BBC’s internal investigation into unequal pay.

Ms Montague was reportedly ‘incandescent with rage’ after discovering that she was paid almost five times less than John Humphrys, her Today co-host for 18 years.