BBC presenters are earning up to ￡20,000 a day by carrying out non-BBC work on the side, according to a register of outside interests.

       Dan Walker, the BBC Breakfast presenter, hosted two events in a single day, each paying up to ￡10,000.

       Huw Edwards appeared at four events in the space of a month, making at least ￡25,000, although the true figure is hidden and could be much higher.

       The BBC’s register of external events, released quarterly, shows the levels to which some presenters will go to earn extra money.

       On a Friday in February, Walker, 45, hosted a daytime event for Best Companies, interviewing employers about their “workplace engagement” levels.

       Within hours he was hosting a second event, details of which were not included on the register. But each assignment paid ￡5,000-10,000. His BBC salary is ￡295,000-299,999.

       BBC sources said Walker was not hosting BBC Breakfast that day and was free to take on other work.

       A week later he earned a further ￡5,000-10,000 with work for Stellify, a television production company.

       Meanwhile newsreader and presenter Edwards, 60, had a busy March beginning with a ￡5,000-10,000 job hosting an event for the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investment.

       'Favourite news broadcaster'

       He followed it up with work for Bauer Media, the radio and magazine company, which also paid ￡5,000-10,000. A week later he earned more than ￡10,000 - the exact amount is undisclosed - presenting the inaugural British Champion Awards for Business Matters magazine, where he was billed as “the nation’s favourite news broadcaster”.

       Edwards ended the month with another ￡5,000-10,000 job for UMAL which provides insurance for universities and further education colleges. His BBC salary is ￡425,000-429,999.

       The presenter has suggested that he will leave the BBC when his contract expires next year. Walker leaves BBC Breakfast next week after signing a deal to become the face of Channel 5 news.

       Other presenters charging ￡5,000-￡10,000 per appearance include Naga Munchetty, 47, who hosted an awards ceremony for the British and International Golf Greenkeepers Association; Kirsty Wark, 67, who moderated an event for Van Cleef & Arpels, the luxury jeweller; Nick Robinson, 58, who was hired as a speaker for the Association of Investment Companies; and Frank Gardner, 60, for an appearance at the Clacton and North East Essex Arts and Literary Society.