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BBC to be forced to reveal pay of stars including Evans, Lineker and Norton BBC to be forced to reveal pay of stars including Evans, Lineker and Norton
(4 months later)
Gary Lineker, Chris Evans and Graham Norton will be among a group of BBC stars forced to declare how much they are paid as part of plans unveiled in a white paper on the future of the corporation published on Thursday.Gary Lineker, Chris Evans and Graham Norton will be among a group of BBC stars forced to declare how much they are paid as part of plans unveiled in a white paper on the future of the corporation published on Thursday.
The BBC will be told to reveal the pay of presenters who earn more than the £450,000 a year paid to director general Tony Hall – a plan described as a “poachers’ charter” by media executives who say rivals could use the new rules to pick off the BBC’s best-paid presenters.The BBC will be told to reveal the pay of presenters who earn more than the £450,000 a year paid to director general Tony Hall – a plan described as a “poachers’ charter” by media executives who say rivals could use the new rules to pick off the BBC’s best-paid presenters.
Related: BBC white paper: what did they say a decade ago?
It is understood that David Cameron personally intervened to set the level for disclosure at £450,000 after the culture secretary, John Whittingdale, initially suggested £150,000. That figure would have included nearly all major news presenters including Fiona Bruce, Huw Edwards and John Humphrys.It is understood that David Cameron personally intervened to set the level for disclosure at £450,000 after the culture secretary, John Whittingdale, initially suggested £150,000. That figure would have included nearly all major news presenters including Fiona Bruce, Huw Edwards and John Humphrys.
Currently, the BBC discloses only limited information about the pay of on-screen talent; in 2015 it said there were nine people who appeared on air who were paid more than £500,000. But it not clear how happy the best-paid names will be with the proposals.Currently, the BBC discloses only limited information about the pay of on-screen talent; in 2015 it said there were nine people who appeared on air who were paid more than £500,000. But it not clear how happy the best-paid names will be with the proposals.
Some of the biggest names – including Evans, who is believed to be the BBC’s highest paid star– may investigate whether then can invoke clauses in their contracts preventing pay disclosure.Some of the biggest names – including Evans, who is believed to be the BBC’s highest paid star– may investigate whether then can invoke clauses in their contracts preventing pay disclosure.
The three-year contract Evans negotiated with the BBC last year is thought to have netted him as much as £2m a year for presenting Top Gear and his Radio 2 breakfast show.The three-year contract Evans negotiated with the BBC last year is thought to have netted him as much as £2m a year for presenting Top Gear and his Radio 2 breakfast show.
Other high earners at the BBC include: Match of the Day presenter Lineker (on a reported £2m); Norton (just under £2m); and Clare Balding (as much as £2m). None of these figures have been confirmed by the BBC.Other high earners at the BBC include: Match of the Day presenter Lineker (on a reported £2m); Norton (just under £2m); and Clare Balding (as much as £2m). None of these figures have been confirmed by the BBC.
The white paper, to be presented to parliament by Whittingdale, is expected to announce a radical overhaul of BBC governance by giving more power to media regulator Ofcom and setting up a BBC unitary board.The white paper, to be presented to parliament by Whittingdale, is expected to announce a radical overhaul of BBC governance by giving more power to media regulator Ofcom and setting up a BBC unitary board.
But after the BBC warned about a possible loss of editorial independence, the white paper will say that “the BBC will be responsible for appointing at least half of the board members” - giving it control. The government will give itself the power to appoint six members: the chair, vice-chair and four representatives of the nations and regions.But after the BBC warned about a possible loss of editorial independence, the white paper will say that “the BBC will be responsible for appointing at least half of the board members” - giving it control. The government will give itself the power to appoint six members: the chair, vice-chair and four representatives of the nations and regions.
The old BBC Trust will be abolished and regulation will largely pass to Ofcom, which already regulates commercial broadcasters.The old BBC Trust will be abolished and regulation will largely pass to Ofcom, which already regulates commercial broadcasters.
Three seats are automatically guaranteed for the BBC – the director general and two lieutenants – meaning that the corporation would have to have to appoint three further board members if it wanted to ensure there was a 50/50 split between government and non-government appointees.Three seats are automatically guaranteed for the BBC – the director general and two lieutenants – meaning that the corporation would have to have to appoint three further board members if it wanted to ensure there was a 50/50 split between government and non-government appointees.
As the bruising negotiations in the run-up to the publication reached their climax, Whittingdale was forced to concede in parliament that he would “do nothing to undermine” the independence of the BBC following a barrage of criticism from MPs.As the bruising negotiations in the run-up to the publication reached their climax, Whittingdale was forced to concede in parliament that he would “do nothing to undermine” the independence of the BBC following a barrage of criticism from MPs.
Maria Eagle, the shadow culture secretary, had accused him of trying to turn the corporation into a “mouthpiece of the government of the day” following a stream of leaks about what was being considered.Maria Eagle, the shadow culture secretary, had accused him of trying to turn the corporation into a “mouthpiece of the government of the day” following a stream of leaks about what was being considered.
Whittingdale said the white paper would do nothing to change the pre-budget funding deal reached with the government last year and indicated that the BBC would not be ordered where to schedule its most popular entertainment programmes, such as Strictly Come Dancing, to avoid competing with commercial rivals.Whittingdale said the white paper would do nothing to change the pre-budget funding deal reached with the government last year and indicated that the BBC would not be ordered where to schedule its most popular entertainment programmes, such as Strictly Come Dancing, to avoid competing with commercial rivals.
Related: John Whittingdale: I have no wish to hobble the BBC
Cameron and the chancellor, George Osborne, have become closely involved in the negotiations, and ministers are hoping to avoid widespread criticism of the government’s plans for the BBC before the EU referendum.Cameron and the chancellor, George Osborne, have become closely involved in the negotiations, and ministers are hoping to avoid widespread criticism of the government’s plans for the BBC before the EU referendum.
Increased diversity will be included in the BBC’s public purposes for the first time after repeated attempts to increase the number of female, minority ethnic and disabled staff have failed to bring about change quickly enough.Increased diversity will be included in the BBC’s public purposes for the first time after repeated attempts to increase the number of female, minority ethnic and disabled staff have failed to bring about change quickly enough.
With the need to agree the BBC’s royal charter having to be completed by the end of this year, the government has bowed to pressure from BBC supporters to agree an 11-year charter, thereby disconnecting the highly charged negotiations from the political cycle now that parliaments are fixed for five years.With the need to agree the BBC’s royal charter having to be completed by the end of this year, the government has bowed to pressure from BBC supporters to agree an 11-year charter, thereby disconnecting the highly charged negotiations from the political cycle now that parliaments are fixed for five years.
The government is understood to be keen to use the media regulator Ofcom to stop the BBC chasing ratings against commercial rivals. “The tone has got to change at the BBC,” said a government source. “The white paper will say: ‘Feel free to celebrate success of a ratings hit, but think a little more about it’.”The government is understood to be keen to use the media regulator Ofcom to stop the BBC chasing ratings against commercial rivals. “The tone has got to change at the BBC,” said a government source. “The white paper will say: ‘Feel free to celebrate success of a ratings hit, but think a little more about it’.”
Although Ofcom will be given power to police such highly sensitive matters as distinctiveness, it is expected to take a year for the change to bed in. Distinctiveness has long been a key issue for Whittingdale but the report will aim to steer a course between the two sides, describing hits such Strictly Come Dancing and The Great British Bake Off, for example, as distinctive.Although Ofcom will be given power to police such highly sensitive matters as distinctiveness, it is expected to take a year for the change to bed in. Distinctiveness has long been a key issue for Whittingdale but the report will aim to steer a course between the two sides, describing hits such Strictly Come Dancing and The Great British Bake Off, for example, as distinctive.
“The aim is for this to land somewhere in the middle,” said a government insider. “Fundamentalists will say this is a terrible assault on the BBC. The right wing of the Tory party will say it doesn’t go far enough.”“The aim is for this to land somewhere in the middle,” said a government insider. “Fundamentalists will say this is a terrible assault on the BBC. The right wing of the Tory party will say it doesn’t go far enough.”
Other proposals to be outlined in the white paper include:Other proposals to be outlined in the white paper include: