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BBC 'deeply unimpressed' over Carrie Gracie pay jokes | BBC 'deeply unimpressed' over Carrie Gracie pay jokes |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The BBC is "deeply unimpressed" with an off-air chat in which two of its high-profile journalists joked about the gender pay gap, a BBC source has said. | |
BBC Radio 4 Today presenter John Humphrys and North America editor Jon Sopel were discussing Carrie Gracie, who had just quit over equal pay. | BBC Radio 4 Today presenter John Humphrys and North America editor Jon Sopel were discussing Carrie Gracie, who had just quit over equal pay. |
Before Monday's show, The Sun and Times reported, they joked of "handing over" pay to keep Ms Gracie as China editor. | Before Monday's show, The Sun and Times reported, they joked of "handing over" pay to keep Ms Gracie as China editor. |
A BBC spokeswoman said the presenter regrets the "ill-advised" conversation. | A BBC spokeswoman said the presenter regrets the "ill-advised" conversation. |
Mr Humphrys told the Times the off-air chat was "nothing to do" with the campaign by Ms Gracie. | Mr Humphrys told the Times the off-air chat was "nothing to do" with the campaign by Ms Gracie. |
He said: "This was what I thought was an exchange between two old friends who have known each other for 30 years and were taking the mickey out of each other." | He said: "This was what I thought was an exchange between two old friends who have known each other for 30 years and were taking the mickey out of each other." |
BBC management are understood to be "deeply unimpressed" with the unaired discussion, which took place ahead of a pre-recorded interview for Monday morning's edition of Today. | BBC management are understood to be "deeply unimpressed" with the unaired discussion, which took place ahead of a pre-recorded interview for Monday morning's edition of Today. |
In an open letter issued the night before, Ms Gracie had accused the corporation of having a "secretive and illegal pay culture". | In an open letter issued the night before, Ms Gracie had accused the corporation of having a "secretive and illegal pay culture". |
She quit because of pay inequality with her male counterparts - including Mr Sopel - who were earning more than her £135,000-a-year salary. | She quit because of pay inequality with her male counterparts - including Mr Sopel - who were earning more than her £135,000-a-year salary. |
Last year the BBC listed all the salaries of all employees earning more than £150,000 a year, which revealed Mr Sopel, the US editor, earned £200,000-£249,999, while Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen earned £150,000-£199,999. | Last year the BBC listed all the salaries of all employees earning more than £150,000 a year, which revealed Mr Sopel, the US editor, earned £200,000-£249,999, while Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen earned £150,000-£199,999. |
It also showed that Mr Humphrys, who has presented Radio 4's Today programme since 1987, had a salary of £600,000-£649,000. | It also showed that Mr Humphrys, who has presented Radio 4's Today programme since 1987, had a salary of £600,000-£649,000. |
Speaking in the Radio 4 studio, Mr Humphrys reportedly asked Mr Sopel about "how much of your salary you are prepared to hand over to Carrie Gracie to keep her". | Speaking in the Radio 4 studio, Mr Humphrys reportedly asked Mr Sopel about "how much of your salary you are prepared to hand over to Carrie Gracie to keep her". |
He then referred to "other men who are earning too much" at the BBC. | He then referred to "other men who are earning too much" at the BBC. |
Mr Sopel is understood to have replied that "if we are talking about the scope for the greatest redistribution I'll have to come back and say well yes Mr Humphrys". | Mr Sopel is understood to have replied that "if we are talking about the scope for the greatest redistribution I'll have to come back and say well yes Mr Humphrys". |
The presenter is then reported to have uttered a profanity and said that he was "still left with more [pay] than anybody else". | The presenter is then reported to have uttered a profanity and said that he was "still left with more [pay] than anybody else". |
Miriam O'Reilly, who won an ageism case against the BBC in 2011 after being dropped from Countryfile, described the exchange as "base, smug and condescending". | Miriam O'Reilly, who won an ageism case against the BBC in 2011 after being dropped from Countryfile, described the exchange as "base, smug and condescending". |
Claiming to have heard a recording of the chat, Ms O'Reilly said it represented the attitude of "back-slapping entitled males". | Claiming to have heard a recording of the chat, Ms O'Reilly said it represented the attitude of "back-slapping entitled males". |
She also said she had been dropped from the Today programme on Friday, when she was expecting to talk about equal pay. | She also said she had been dropped from the Today programme on Friday, when she was expecting to talk about equal pay. |
Deputy Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson asked in a tweet whether Mr Humphrys would be prohibited from presenting stories on the issue of gender impartiality. | Deputy Lib Dem leader Jo Swinson asked in a tweet whether Mr Humphrys would be prohibited from presenting stories on the issue of gender impartiality. |
Earlier this week, presenter Winifred Robinson - who had tweeted support for Ms Gracie - was taken off air, while Woman's Hour's Jane Garvey, a prominent campaigner for equal pay, said she was unable to conduct an interview with Ms Gracie for the show. | Earlier this week, presenter Winifred Robinson - who had tweeted support for Ms Gracie - was taken off air, while Woman's Hour's Jane Garvey, a prominent campaigner for equal pay, said she was unable to conduct an interview with Ms Gracie for the show. |
After the conversation between Mr Humphreys and Mr Sopel became public, Ms Garvey tweeted: "The Humphrys-Sopel exchange reveals, very neatly, what we're up against." | After the conversation between Mr Humphreys and Mr Sopel became public, Ms Garvey tweeted: "The Humphrys-Sopel exchange reveals, very neatly, what we're up against." |
A BBC spokeswoman said: "This was an ill-advised off-air conversation which the presenter regrets. | A BBC spokeswoman said: "This was an ill-advised off-air conversation which the presenter regrets. |
"The BBC is committed to getting its pay structures right and, as we have said, we are conducting a comprehensive analysis of presenter pay," she added. | "The BBC is committed to getting its pay structures right and, as we have said, we are conducting a comprehensive analysis of presenter pay," she added. |