This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/media/live/2017/jul/19/bbc-publishes-salaries-of-highest-earning-stars-live-updates

The article has changed 16 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
BBC salaries: earnings of stars including Chris Evans, Fiona Bruce and Gary Lineker revealed - live BBC pay: Evans tops list as stars' salaries are published - live updates
(35 minutes later)
11.37am BST
11:37
At the press conference to launch the report Lord Hall was asked about the variation in salaries paid to the Today programme team.
He said: “I don’t want to talk about individuals when it comes to the Today programme, but let me just say you would be wrong to say that the lowest paid member of the presenting team is a woman.
“Leave it at that.”
The salary list puts Mishal Husain’s Today programme interview with Hall in context (see earlier). She was paid up to £250,000 compared to John Humphrys who is on up to £650,000.
Humphrys, 73, joined the BBC in 1966. From 1981 to 1987 he was the main presenter for the Nine O’Clock News, and since 1987 has been a presenter on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme. Since 2003 he has been the host of the BBC Two quiz show Mastermind.
Husain, born in 1973, joined the BBC in 1998 as a junior producer. She is also a presenter on the Today programme, as well as BBC World News and BBC Weekend News. Of the other Today presenters, Nick Robinson earns from £250,000 to £299,999, Justin Webb earns between £150,000 and £199,999, and Sarah Montague does not earn enough to feature on the list.
11.32am BST
11:32
BBC director general, Tony Hall, claims the BBC commitments to gender and diversity parity will change the media market.
But in a statement to launch the BBC’s annual report he did not repeat his Today programme pledge to close the gender pay gap. He said:
“On gender and diversity, the BBC is more diverse than the broadcasting industry and the Civil Service. We have set the most stretching targets in the industry for on-air diversity and we’ve made progress, but we recognise there is more to do and we are pushing further and faster than any other broadcaster.
“At the moment, of the talent earning over £150,000, two thirds are men and one third are women. We’ve set a clear target for 2020: we want all our lead and presenting roles to be equally divided between men and women. And it’s already having an impact. If you look at those on the list who we have hired or promoted in the last three years, 60% are women and nearly a fifth come from a BAME background.
“Meeting our goal on this is going to have a profound impact not just on the BBC, but the whole media industry. It’s going to change the market for talent in this country.
11.24am BST
11:24
The salaries of TV stars like Graham Norton and Fiona Bruce should be the least of our worries, according to Abi Wilkinson.
Writing on the Guardian opinion she says:
The world’s eight richest men own as much wealth as half the world’s population. In the UK, billionaires buy up media outlets and donate to political parties (most commonly, the Conservatives) in an attempt to influence our democracy.
Rupert Murdoch (net worth: £9.3bn) doesn’t only want you to be angry at BBC performers being paid more than £150,000 per year. His newspapers frequently attack unemployed benefit claimants as a drain on the working population, while simultaneously suggesting that migrant workers are to blame for Brits being unable to find jobs. The more that ordinary people can be encouraged to blame each other for their hardship, the less likely it is that elites will be challenged.
Maybe, though, this BBC report could be used to spark a more sincere debate about inequality. Another piece of research released today is likely to receive less attention, but also deserves consideration in this context. The TUC has found a 25% salary gap between the richest and poorest regions of the UK, which major knock-on effects for local economies. People living in places like the West Midlands, Wales and the north-west are far less likely to be able to find well paid work than those in London and the south-east.
We need to stop viewing extreme income equality as unavoidable, and realise that our economy is something we have significant power to shape. If you have thoughts on BBC employees’ renumeration, take a step back and broaden that out. What would a fair society look like?
11.20am BST
11:20
Graham Ruddick
Graham Ruddick has more details on the gender pay gap.
On BBC gender imbalance - also important who is not on list - Sarah Montague, Emily Maitls, Louise Minchin and Hazel Irvine
Top seven BBC all male - Chris Evans, Gary Lineker, Graham Norton, Jeremy Vine, John Humphrys, Huw Edwards, Steve Wright
Alot of explaining for BBC to do, but look to be clear gender imbalances in news and sport. Eg - John McEnroe paid same as Clare Balding...
11.17am BST
11:17
Jamie Grierson
The gender pay gap at the BBC is revealed in several stark examples. Here’s a selection:
Huw Edwards (£550,000 to £599,999) and Fiona Bruce (£350,000 to £399,999)
John Humphrys (£600,000 to £649,999) and Mishal Husain (£200,000 to £250,000)
Gary Lineker (£1,750,000 to £1,799,999) and Clare Balding (£150,000 to £199,999)
Derek Thompson (£350,000 to £399,999) and Gillian Taylforth (£150,000 to £199,999)
Nick Knowles (£300,000 to £349,999) and Mel Giedroyc (£150,000 to £199,000) and
Matt Baker (£450,000 to £499,000) and Alex Jones (£400,000 to £449,000).
11.10am BST
11:10
Graham Ruddick
Chris Evans was paid at least £2.2m by the BBC last year while Gary Lineker collected more than £1.75m and Graham Norton over £850,000, according to figures published by the corporation that highlight significant gender imbalances in its top stars’ salaries.
The three male presenters are the top earners on an unprecedented list of the BBC’s highest-paid stars that the corporation published on Wednesday as part of its annual report. Only a third of the 96 top-earners are female and the top seven are all male.
The list includes 96 actors, presenters, journalists and panelists who were paid more than £150,000 in the last financial year. The BBC fought against the list being published but was forced to by the government as part of its new 11-year royal charter.
The list reveals a major gender imbalance among the BBC’s top earners. Only two women – Claudia Winkleman, who presents Strictly Come Dancing, and Alex Jones, presenter of the One Show – are listed as earning more than £400,000 compared to 12 men. Laura Kuenssberg, the BBC’s political editor, earns between £200,000 and £249,999 – less than PM host Eddie Mair, who earns between £300,000 and £349,999.
There are also some high-profile female absentees from the list. Emily Maitlis, the newsreader, Sarah Montague, the presenter of the Today programme on Radio 4, and Louise Minchin, who presents BBC Breakfast, do not earn more than £150,000 a year according to the disclosure.
In contrast, Huw Edwards, who presents the news as well as major events and documentaries, earned between £550,000 and £599,999; John Humphrys, who presents Today and Mastermind, collected £600,000 to £649,999; and Dan Walker, who presented Breakfast, Football Focus and Olympic coverage in 2016, was paid £200,000 to £249,999.
11.09am BST
11:09
ITV presenter and former Daily Mirror editor Piers Morgan has been widely criticised for breaking the BBC’s embargo on the salaries, almost an hour early.
BBC News stars' salaries: 1. Jeremy Vine: £700k-£749k2. Huw Edwards: £550k-£599k Highest paid woman: Fiona Bruce: £350k-£399k
He claimed that breaking the embargo was a scoop.
Oh settle down, petal.I just scooped you. Be better next time. https://t.co/O9EQAHPFak
Aww...somebody got scooped and is feeling very, VERY angry. 😆😆😆 https://t.co/Q0FkWfwIwZ
I understand the word 'scoop' better. https://t.co/Xu7w8P9QtP
11.01am BST11.01am BST
11:0111:01
Top ten BBC salaries revealedTop ten BBC salaries revealed
These are the names of the stars in the top ten salary bands revealed in the annual report.These are the names of the stars in the top ten salary bands revealed in the annual report.
1. Chris Evans £2.2m - £2.25m1. Chris Evans £2.2m - £2.25m
2. Gary Lineker £1.75m - £1.8m2. Gary Lineker £1.75m - £1.8m
3. Graham Norton £850,0000 - £899,9993. Graham Norton £850,0000 - £899,999
4. Jeremy Vine £700,000 - £749,9994. Jeremy Vine £700,000 - £749,999
5. John Humphrys £600,000 - £649,9995. John Humphrys £600,000 - £649,999
6. Huw Edwards £550,000 - £599,9996. Huw Edwards £550,000 - £599,999
7. Steve Wright £500,000 - £549,9997. Steve Wright £500,000 - £549,999
= 8. Claudia Winkleman £450,000 - £499,999= 8. Claudia Winkleman £450,000 - £499,999
= 8. Matt Baker £450,000 - £499,999= 8. Matt Baker £450,000 - £499,999
= 9. Nicky Campbell £400,000 - £449,999= 9. Nicky Campbell £400,000 - £449,999
= 9. Andrew Marr £400,000 - £449,999= 9. Andrew Marr £400,000 - £449,999
= 9. Stephen Nolan £400,000 - £449,999= 9. Stephen Nolan £400,000 - £449,999
= 9. Alan Shearer £400,000 - £449,999= 9. Alan Shearer £400,000 - £449,999
=9. Alex Jones £400,000 - £449,000=9. Alex Jones £400,000 - £449,000
10. Fiona Bruce £350,000 - £399,99910. Fiona Bruce £350,000 - £399,999
10.47am BST10.47am BST
10:4710:47
Carmen FishwickCarmen Fishwick
We’d like you to share your reaction and thoughts on the BBC salaries. What do you think about the salaries of BBC stars’? And what do you think about the gender pay gap?We’d like you to share your reaction and thoughts on the BBC salaries. What do you think about the salaries of BBC stars’? And what do you think about the gender pay gap?
You can fill in the form below and we’ll use a selection of responses in our reporting.You can fill in the form below and we’ll use a selection of responses in our reporting.
10.46am BST10.46am BST
10:4610:46
Former Labour communication chief Alastair Campbell and former Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger put the Daily Mail’s criticism of BBC salaries in context.Former Labour communication chief Alastair Campbell and former Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger put the Daily Mail’s criticism of BBC salaries in context.
As the Mail fuels up the bile barrels for the BBC remember Dacre earns more than the lot of them. And has enough homes for his own villageAs the Mail fuels up the bile barrels for the BBC remember Dacre earns more than the lot of them. And has enough homes for his own village
Useful context: what major British media organisations pay for top talent #BBCpay pic.twitter.com/gyRzXI1bVZUseful context: what major British media organisations pay for top talent #BBCpay pic.twitter.com/gyRzXI1bVZ
10.14am BST
10:14
The BBC press office has been furiously tweeting a positive spin on today’s annual report.
Among its highlights of an “incredible year at the BBC” are dancing flamingoes on Planet Earth, Ed Balls on Strictly Come Dancing, and that interview with a diplomat which was gatecrashed by his kids.
We don't know where to begin. That dance. That interview. That bedtime story. And so much more. A year in sixty seconds on the #BBC. pic.twitter.com/quSv7eL9Pt
It also cites polling to suggest that almost 80% of people agree that the BBC should be able to attract the highest quality talent. The picture montage used to illustrate the point suggest a gender and racial balance among the top earners that is unlikely to be borne out when the figures are published.
Nearly 4 in 5 people think the BBC should try to get the best talent, even if that means paying similar to what others pay. #BBCPay pic.twitter.com/GTPWl51BQx
Here's something we may actually be biased about - we reckon this is a pretty good deal. #BBC pic.twitter.com/kKsc8eiaBr
9.57am BST
09:57
The LibDems have also welcomed Hall’s commitment to closing the gender pay gap at the BBC.
Jo Swinson MP, a former junior equalities minister in the coalition government, told Today that eliminating the pay gap should be done as quickly as possible.
But she doubted whether the BBC would be able to achieve gender pay parity by 2020 as Hall promised, describing it as a “hard nut to crack.”
Swinson said: “I’m glad he says that. I think he is perhaps over optimistic.”
She added: “The first step has to be getting the data, so that you can then look and often be shocked by what the data says. But at least that acts as real wake up call and its stops the problem being invisible.”
On senior pay generally she said: “Transparency is one of the ways that the problem of very high executive pay can start to be addressed. When they have to be publicly justified then I think you perhaps get some more sensitive decisions made.”
9.35am BST
09:35
For a party that campaigned on a manifesto for the many not the few, Labour has issued a measured response to the BBC salaries.
Tom Watson, shadow secretary of state for culture, said:
“The BBC is one of the world’s greatest broadcasters and we shouldn’t be surprised that its top stars - who millions of people tune in to watch and listen to every week - are well paid.
“Labour recognises the BBC’s dilemma: the need to give licence payers value for money while operating in a competitive commercial environment against other broadcasters who do not have to disclose what they pay.”
But he criticised the gender pay gap at the corporation. Watson said: “It’s wrong that only a third of the BBC’s highest paid stars are women, and we welcome Lord Hall’s commitment to close the gender pay gap by 2020. It would be good to see a similar commitment, and similar levels of transparency, from other media organisations - especially those who are criticising the BBC today.”
9.29am BST
09:29
Former BBC chairman Lord Grade, has echoed his successor Lord Hall, in warning that publication of the senior salaries will be inflationary.
Speaking to the Today programme he said:
“I can hear the phones ringing all over the UK today... Agents will be looking at the relative rates others are getting, clients are going be up in arms, the competition will be looking at it.
“The net result of this is inflation. There’s only way this can go and that is that the talent salaries and wages will round upwards, they won’t go down. I guarantee you that.”
9.25am BST
09:25
Opponents of the BBC are using the publication of the top salaries as another stick to be beat the corporation with.
As people realise how much the BBC elite trouser in terms of license fee cash, I hope it helps brings forward the end of the license fee
Why is it "damaging" the BBC for its spending to be transparent to those who fund it? Same arrogance we heard re FOI, then over MPs expenses https://t.co/IQFOQZHSJw
DAILY MAIL FRONT PAGE: 'Pay panic at the BBC' #skypapers pic.twitter.com/JgKYsQsvHb
8.50am BST
08:50
Damian Collins, chair of the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, warned the BBC that his committee will be raising the issue of senior pay disparity after the figures are published.
Speaking to Sky News he said: “This could be a really serious issue.
“If it becomes clear that people doing the same job with the same level of experience but being paid at very different levels, people will question why that can be the case.
“There has been concern raised that we may see examples of this.
“This would certainly be a very serious matter.
“This would certainly be something we would take up very strongly with the BBC when the director general and the chairman appear before the select committee in the autumn.”
Updated
at 9.00am BST
8.47am BST
08:47
Labour MP and former shadow culture secretary Chris Bryant, echoes Hall’s argument about the unfairness of singling out only the salaries of BBC talent.
Bryant, who used to work at the BBC, tweeted that almost those reporting on the issue are opponents of the corporation.
Just remember virtually everyone reporting and commenting on BBC pay today will be a competitor or opponent. #jewelinthecrown
Ian Birrell, columnist and former speech writer for David Cameron, calls for a level playing field between broadcasters.
Why is BBC only public body forced to reveal high salaries? Surely edict should apply to all or none? Otherwise just seems a partisan attack
8.36am BST
08:36
The union representing low-paid production workers at the BBC is stepping up demands for a minimum salary of 20,000, PA reports.
Bectu said it was “unjustifiable” for the corporation to focus on the earnings of those on more than £150,000 when thousands of engineers, technical and other production staff were paid a fraction of that amount.
Gerry Morrissey, leader of Bectu - now part of the Prospect union - said something should be done about low pay. He told the Press Association:
“We have had a claim in for two years for a minimum wage of 20,000 rather than the current 16,000.
“It is totally unacceptable that the BBC is prepared to pay senior management and others many times that amount.
“There should be a lot more focus on giving low-paid staff a decent living wage.”
Mr Morrissey said more than 2,500 production staff were paid less than 20,000.
8.32am BST
08:32
Hall commits to close gender pay gap by 2020
The BBC director general, Tony Hall, says he is committed to closing the gender pay gap at the BBC by 2020.
In a sometimes awkward interview with BBC Radio 4’s Today programme presenter Mishal Hussain, Hall said: “By 2020 we will have equality between men and women on air, and we will also have the pay gap sorted by then too.”
He added: “The average gender pay gap for the UK is just over 18%, our figure is 10%. I’m committed to making sure we do something about it.”
Hussain, whose pay is unlikely to match some of her male co-presenters when the salaries are published at 11am, pressed Hall on whether male salaries will be cut or female salaries raised.
Hall said: “We will be working through case by case to ensure that I can sit here in 2020 and look you in the eye, and more importantly look our licence fee-payers in the eye, and say we have equality of pay between men and women ... We have to manage within our means. You know that and I know that. We have got to look after public money very very carefully.”
Hall said the decision to publish salaries was a “bad idea” but he conceded that the BBC had lost the argument. He said:
“Trying to compare names with what they are paid is actually very difficult. It is one of the reasons we said this was a bad idea ... there is one person doing one job sitting next to another person doing another jobs, they may be doing different other programmes. So comparisons are very very hard. That’s one of the worries we have got to manage and help through today.”
Hall also said he feared that other broadcasters would poach BBC talent as a result of today’s figures. He said: “Part of the difficulty that the public has in judging this, is that it is only us publishing these things, it is not anybody else publishing it. We were against this because we thought it was going to be inflationary. And we believed it would tempt other people with deep pockets to come after our talent. We lost that argument, let’s get on with it.”
Hall defended the pay levels of all 96 stars on the list. “I’m satisfied with all of the 96 people on the list and what they are being paid,” he said. He added:
“We are seeking to get balance here between the spending of public money and also making sure we have got the right faces on screen and behind the microphone. I think we have been managing to hold down the pay that we pay talent and reducing the pay that we give to talent at a time of real inflation. The total is down by £5m on last year.”
Updated
at 8.36am BST
7.53am BST
07:53
The BBC is to publish the names and salaries of its top earners at 11am as part of its annual report.
Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker who is expected to appear near, or at the top of the list, has already dubbed it “BBC salary day”.
Happy BBC salary day. I blame my agent and the other TV channels that pay more. Now where did I put my tin helmet?
We will have all the eye-watering detail of the pay packets, or as much detail as the BBC will reveal – the salaries are due to published in bands of £50,000.
We will also track all the reaction and fallout. The BBC has allowed its highest earners to defend their pay on social media.
The list of top earners was demanded by the government in the face of resistance from the BBC. David Cameron initially told the BBC it should disclose the pay of on-air talent earning more than £450,000 but Theresa May cut this to £150,000 after becoming prime minister last year.
That salary is what the prime minister herself is paid.
On Tuesday, the BBC revealed that 96 stars will appear on the list. Only a third are women.
Updated
at 8.33am BST