The BBC will this week publish the salaries of its highest earners, which, according to insiders, will reveal a stark gender pay gap.

The list of the top-paid stars will have “astounding omissions” that will expose the fact that women are not being paid as much as men in the same jobs, sources claim.

They warn the revelations will be “very embarrassing” for the corporation.

Government sources say Karen Bradley, the Culture Secretary, is preparing to challenge the BBC, as she “cares deeply” about pay disparity.

Two Tory select committee chairmen has also expressed concern over what the list would reveal and vowed to take BBC bosses to task over disparities.

By April next year, all companies with more than 250 employees will have to publish their gender pay gap under a new legal requirement designed to stamp out workplace discrimination.