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| BBC pay: Chris Evans tops list as stars' salaries are published - live updates | BBC pay: Chris Evans tops list as stars' salaries are published - live updates |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 1.13pm BST | |
| 13:13 | |
| Rachel Obordo | |
| Guardian readers have been in touch to share their thoughts on the gender pay gap.Janice Aitken said she is not surprised about the gender pay gap at the BBC. “I’m deeply saddened to see it is firmly entrenched in the BBC. If the household names we see on our screens daily are not treated equally then the message is loud and clear - women are less valued, less entertaining and less authoritative than men who are doing the same job.”A freelance writer from Essex, Jenny Day thinks the report reflects an organisational culture which is out of touch with the modern era. “The idea that a man should automatically be ‘the family breadwinner’ has long since ceased to be relevant. There are now many families in which the woman is the main breadwinner, yet this notion of male superiority in remuneration stubbornly persists.”Daniel Bevan from Portsmouth thinks the pay gap is “a ridiculous and unjustified throwback to a time when women were seen as unequal”. He said, “It’s very simple. If you can do the job well, it’s irrelevant whether you’re male or female.” | |
| 1.12pm BST | |
| 13:12 | |
| Chris Evans: publishing salaries 'right and proper' | |
| Chris Evans was mobbed by reporters asking to justify his £2.2m plus salary as he left the BBC after presenting his radio breakfast show. | |
| He told them: “We are the ultimate public company and therefore I think that it is probably, on balance, right and proper if people know what we get paid.” | |
| Lord Hall defended Evans’s pay uring a briefing on the annual report. He said: “Chris Evans is presenting the most popular show on the most popular radio network in Europe. | |
| “It might not be commercial radio, but we do know that for a number of presenters they have been made offers by commercial radio. | |
| “We also know we’ve lost people, not Chris, but to Amazon and to other big players ... Also the choice for some of our talent is to go and do something completely different because they’re entertainers ... that is the market we’re dealing with. Them saying ‘we’re going to do something completely different’ or ... ‘it’s a market that is not just the UK but global’.” | |
| 12.58pm BST | |
| 12:58 | |
| Another lawyer has warned the BBC is now open to sex discrimination claims over pay (see earlier). | |
| Ruth Gamble, Partner at BDBF said: “If the BBC’s list of salaries shows that a female presenter on a primetime show is being paid less than a male presenter on the same show or a similar one, they have the makings of a good sex discrimination or equal pay claim. To defeat such a claim, the BBC would have to demonstrate that there is an explanation for the difference, which has nothing to do with gender. They will likely try to rely on years’ of experience, audience ratings for particular shows and differences between programme genres but, if the disparities are as striking as many expect them to be, it will not be an easy argument.” | |
| 12.52pm BST | |
| 12:52 | |
| Haroon Siddique | |
| Louise Minchin is one of the women whose absence has been noted from the list of high earners, given that her fellow BBC Breakfast presenter Dan Walker is on it. | |
| Walker has taken to Twitter to explain the reason for this discrepancy. | |
| BBC exec should really know that we get exactly the same for BBC breakfast. I have another job on Football Focus https://t.co/zcTvaiocqX | |
| 12.48pm BST | |
| 12:48 | |
| Haroon Siddique | |
| Theresa May has taken a dig at BBC high earners in response to a question about public sector pay. | |
| After Labour MP Ian Murray asked her, in prime minister’s questions, which public sector workers she thinks are overpaid and which ones are underpaid, May responded by saying that she knows many people are struggling but “as we see today there are some people in public sector who are being very well paid”. | |
| Murray was following up on a question by the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, who asked May if the chancellor, Philip Hammond, was referring to members of her cabinet, when he said, earlier this week, that some public sector workers were overpaid. | |
| You can catch up on all the action from PMQs on Andrew Sparrow’s politics blog. | |
| 12.35pm BST | 12.35pm BST |
| 12:35 | 12:35 |
| BBC presenter Andrew Marr has defended his 400,000-a-year salary, claiming he has turned down higher offers from the broadcaster’s rivals, PA reports. | BBC presenter Andrew Marr has defended his 400,000-a-year salary, claiming he has turned down higher offers from the broadcaster’s rivals, PA reports. |
| He revealed his salary had been steadily decreasing and had dropped 139,000 in the past two years. In a statement, Marr said: | He revealed his salary had been steadily decreasing and had dropped 139,000 in the past two years. In a statement, Marr said: |
| “In the past I have been offered deals by the BBC’s commercial rivals at a higher rate than the corporation would pay. | “In the past I have been offered deals by the BBC’s commercial rivals at a higher rate than the corporation would pay. |
| “Following the publication of the BBC’s annual report, I can confirm that I’m paid £400,475 a year. | “Following the publication of the BBC’s annual report, I can confirm that I’m paid £400,475 a year. |
| “It covers the weekly Sunday morning show, my radio work, documentary commissions, television obituaries, and work on big news events such as elections and both the Scottish and UK referenda coverage. | “It covers the weekly Sunday morning show, my radio work, documentary commissions, television obituaries, and work on big news events such as elections and both the Scottish and UK referenda coverage. |
| “It’s less, of course, than the £600,000 I was widely reported to be earning a couple of years ago; or indeed the 3 million a year Daily Telegraph claimed I was paid. | “It’s less, of course, than the £600,000 I was widely reported to be earning a couple of years ago; or indeed the 3 million a year Daily Telegraph claimed I was paid. |
| “As the BBC moves to deal with highly paid employees, my salary has been coming down. I now earn £139,000 a year less than I did two years ago.” | “As the BBC moves to deal with highly paid employees, my salary has been coming down. I now earn £139,000 a year less than I did two years ago.” |
| Andrew Neil also addressed his inclusion on the list during Wednesday morning’s Daily Politics. | Andrew Neil also addressed his inclusion on the list during Wednesday morning’s Daily Politics. |
| Sitting alongside co-presenter Jo Coburn, who was not included on the list, he said: “The BBC has published details of on-screen talent, which you may be surprised to know includes me - as on-screen talent.” | Sitting alongside co-presenter Jo Coburn, who was not included on the list, he said: “The BBC has published details of on-screen talent, which you may be surprised to know includes me - as on-screen talent.” |
| Discussing a sports segment on the programme, Neil joked: “Is Gary Lineker coming on to do this bit? That means the budget will be gone for the year.” Neil was included in the £200,000-249,999 bracket, while Match Of The Day presenter Lineker’s salary is more than £1.75m. | Discussing a sports segment on the programme, Neil joked: “Is Gary Lineker coming on to do this bit? That means the budget will be gone for the year.” Neil was included in the £200,000-249,999 bracket, while Match Of The Day presenter Lineker’s salary is more than £1.75m. |
| 12.26pm BST | 12.26pm BST |
| 12:26 | 12:26 |
| Former Sun editor David Yelland says he earned more at the Sun in 2003 than any of the news presenters listed in today’s report. | Former Sun editor David Yelland says he earned more at the Sun in 2003 than any of the news presenters listed in today’s report. |
| I earned more than all the news and current affairs BBC staff on that list - other than Presenters- as Editor of The Sun. In 2003. | I earned more than all the news and current affairs BBC staff on that list - other than Presenters- as Editor of The Sun. In 2003. |
| Boastful but important context. | Boastful but important context. |
| 12.22pm BST | 12.22pm BST |
| 12:22 | 12:22 |
| BBC could face sex discrimination claims | BBC could face sex discrimination claims |
| Lawyers have warned that the BBC could face claims for sex discrimination by female stars. | Lawyers have warned that the BBC could face claims for sex discrimination by female stars. |
| In an email Karen Jackson, managing director at the firm Didlaw, said: “If you look at Gary Linekar’s pay of £1.9m as compared to Clare Balding’s £199k there is obviously a gender pay discrepancy. Clare Balding would certainly have a case unless the BBC can show there is a substantial and legitimate reason for the discrepancy.” | In an email Karen Jackson, managing director at the firm Didlaw, said: “If you look at Gary Linekar’s pay of £1.9m as compared to Clare Balding’s £199k there is obviously a gender pay discrepancy. Clare Balding would certainly have a case unless the BBC can show there is a substantial and legitimate reason for the discrepancy.” |
| She added: “A material factor defence is available to employers to show that the pay difference is not because one is a man and the less well paid person is a woman. I have no doubt that the BBC’s legal advisers are already scrambling to gather evidence as to why the work is not equal. It’s obvious that this cannot be fair but showing that it is unlawful is very complex. I wonder if the report revealed any women doing equal work being paid more than a male equivalent? The legislation cuts both ways.” | She added: “A material factor defence is available to employers to show that the pay difference is not because one is a man and the less well paid person is a woman. I have no doubt that the BBC’s legal advisers are already scrambling to gather evidence as to why the work is not equal. It’s obvious that this cannot be fair but showing that it is unlawful is very complex. I wonder if the report revealed any women doing equal work being paid more than a male equivalent? The legislation cuts both ways.” |
| Keely Rushmore, senior associate at SA Law, said: “The statistics could well lead to claims of sex discrimination by female stars. The BBC will need to show that the difference in pay is not directly on the grounds of sex, but also that (to the extent it asserts it relates to other factors such as viewers’ demands and preferences), the differential treatment is justified.” | Keely Rushmore, senior associate at SA Law, said: “The statistics could well lead to claims of sex discrimination by female stars. The BBC will need to show that the difference in pay is not directly on the grounds of sex, but also that (to the extent it asserts it relates to other factors such as viewers’ demands and preferences), the differential treatment is justified.” |
| And, Alex Bearman, Partner at Russell-Cooke, says: “If female stars in this list see male colleagues doing a similar job being paid considerably more than them, they might well be motivated to pursue a claim. The BBC will need to consider carefully how any such disparities can be justified.” | |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 12.58pm BST | |
| 12.17pm BST | 12.17pm BST |
| 12:17 | 12:17 |
| Belatedly here’s a link to the BBC’s annual report. And here’s a full list of who is paid what. | Belatedly here’s a link to the BBC’s annual report. And here’s a full list of who is paid what. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 12.18pm BST | at 12.18pm BST |
| 12.11pm BST | 12.11pm BST |
| 12:11 | 12:11 |
| Sky’s Beth Rigby gives a possible explanation why Sarah Montague, the Today’s programme second longest serving presenter, does not appear on the list of plus £150,000 earners. | Sky’s Beth Rigby gives a possible explanation why Sarah Montague, the Today’s programme second longest serving presenter, does not appear on the list of plus £150,000 earners. |
| The mystery of Sarah Montague's absence from #BBCpay list. She's in same band as Webb (£150k-£200k). But works fewer shifts so paid less | The mystery of Sarah Montague's absence from #BBCpay list. She's in same band as Webb (£150k-£200k). But works fewer shifts so paid less |
| 12.07pm BST | 12.07pm BST |
| 12:07 | 12:07 |
| George Osborne’s London Evening Standard says the BBC has serious questions to answer over senior pay. | George Osborne’s London Evening Standard says the BBC has serious questions to answer over senior pay. |
| Its editorial says: | Its editorial says: |
| How can a public-service organisation that should be promoting gender equality justify its top male stars earning much more than their female stars? Is Chris Evans really worth four times more than Strictly’s Claudia Winkleman? Then there is the size of the salaries. The BBC says it is in an international market for top talent, and some of its people have recently left to join the likes of Spotify and Apple. That competition may be true of its real stars but do you really need to pay Stephen Nolan (exactly, who?) £450,000 a year? And being on the BBC gives performers and presenters an audience that allows them to earn a lot extra in appearance fees and publishing spin-offs. We need to see much more evidence that the BBC management really are managing their £1 billion talent bill. | How can a public-service organisation that should be promoting gender equality justify its top male stars earning much more than their female stars? Is Chris Evans really worth four times more than Strictly’s Claudia Winkleman? Then there is the size of the salaries. The BBC says it is in an international market for top talent, and some of its people have recently left to join the likes of Spotify and Apple. That competition may be true of its real stars but do you really need to pay Stephen Nolan (exactly, who?) £450,000 a year? And being on the BBC gives performers and presenters an audience that allows them to earn a lot extra in appearance fees and publishing spin-offs. We need to see much more evidence that the BBC management really are managing their £1 billion talent bill. |
| Here's our editorial @EveningStandard on the real BBC challenge: not pay in west London but West Coast competition https://t.co/hPnowJ961x | Here's our editorial @EveningStandard on the real BBC challenge: not pay in west London but West Coast competition https://t.co/hPnowJ961x |
| 12.02pm BST | 12.02pm BST |
| 12:02 | 12:02 |
| That Today programme interview between Mishal Husain and Tony Hall was a perfect vignette to illustrate the gender pay in BBC, writes Jane Martinson. | That Today programme interview between Mishal Husain and Tony Hall was a perfect vignette to illustrate the gender pay in BBC, writes Jane Martinson. |
| “It’s complicated. One person could be sitting next to someone doing the same job who earns more,” Hall squirmed to Husain, who is paid £50,000 to £100,000 less than Nick Robinson, who happened to be sitting alongside her in the studio on a salary, we now know, of £250,000-£299,000. “They could be doing other things,” he continued. “Or they may not be,” shot back Husain. | “It’s complicated. One person could be sitting next to someone doing the same job who earns more,” Hall squirmed to Husain, who is paid £50,000 to £100,000 less than Nick Robinson, who happened to be sitting alongside her in the studio on a salary, we now know, of £250,000-£299,000. “They could be doing other things,” he continued. “Or they may not be,” shot back Husain. |
| Awkward. Though possibly not as awkward as the fact that Sarah Montague, the show’s second ever female presenter and second longest serving after John Humphrys does not even appear to have made the list. Humphrys earns more than £600,000, but that includes his salary for presenting Mastermind as well as other TV shows paid for by the licence fee. | Awkward. Though possibly not as awkward as the fact that Sarah Montague, the show’s second ever female presenter and second longest serving after John Humphrys does not even appear to have made the list. Humphrys earns more than £600,000, but that includes his salary for presenting Mastermind as well as other TV shows paid for by the licence fee. |
| Only the BBC would force its own presenters to interview the boss about failings over their own pay of course. Which highlights the one great injustice of the disclosures, forced on the BBC by a Conservative government backed by much of the tabloid press howling for the stories. We will all grow old and die before the Daily Mail’s Sarah Vine interviews Paul Dacre about either his £1.5m last year or indeed whether she earns as much as Katie Hopkins, who works online only. | Only the BBC would force its own presenters to interview the boss about failings over their own pay of course. Which highlights the one great injustice of the disclosures, forced on the BBC by a Conservative government backed by much of the tabloid press howling for the stories. We will all grow old and die before the Daily Mail’s Sarah Vine interviews Paul Dacre about either his £1.5m last year or indeed whether she earns as much as Katie Hopkins, who works online only. |
| It is hard not to feel some sympathy for the BBC, the only major broadcaster that has to name those earning over £150,000 in a hugely competitive market in which its rivals tend to pay more. Rival executives and agents alike will aim to make hay from a poacher’s charter without a level playing field. | It is hard not to feel some sympathy for the BBC, the only major broadcaster that has to name those earning over £150,000 in a hugely competitive market in which its rivals tend to pay more. Rival executives and agents alike will aim to make hay from a poacher’s charter without a level playing field. |
| 11.57am BST | 11.57am BST |
| 11:57 | 11:57 |
| Labour’s former deputy leader Harriet Harman has accused the BBC of sex discrimination in the way it spends public money. | Labour’s former deputy leader Harriet Harman has accused the BBC of sex discrimination in the way it spends public money. |
| Speaking to BBC News she said the corporation would have to change. | Speaking to BBC News she said the corporation would have to change. |
| “It is very important that the lid has been lifted on this pay discrimination in the BBC ... the old boys network where they are feathering their own nests and each others and there is discrimination and unfairness against women,” Harman said. | “It is very important that the lid has been lifted on this pay discrimination in the BBC ... the old boys network where they are feathering their own nests and each others and there is discrimination and unfairness against women,” Harman said. |
| She added: “Although everybody will think it is very unfair and outrageous this is a moment now when it can be sorted out.” | She added: “Although everybody will think it is very unfair and outrageous this is a moment now when it can be sorted out.” |
| She also accused the corporation of hypocrisy on equality. | She also accused the corporation of hypocrisy on equality. |
| Everybody talks the talks of equality, but what’s shown is they are not walking the walk. This is a moment they have got to change. | Everybody talks the talks of equality, but what’s shown is they are not walking the walk. This is a moment they have got to change. |
| The BBC needs to set an example. This is public money and people don’t want their money to be spent unfairly. Public money shouldn’t be spent in a way which is discriminatory. When you look at the structure and the pay it is clearly discrimination. Now that it is out in the open it will have to change. | The BBC needs to set an example. This is public money and people don’t want their money to be spent unfairly. Public money shouldn’t be spent in a way which is discriminatory. When you look at the structure and the pay it is clearly discrimination. Now that it is out in the open it will have to change. |