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BBC stars 'only paid market rate' BBC stars 'only paid market rate'
(about 2 hours later)
A report into how much the BBC pays stars such as Jonathan Ross is expected to clear the corporation of exceeding the going market rate. The BBC has a "firm grip" on the amount it pays its biggest names, according to the corporation's governing body.
The review, commissioned by the corporation's governing body, the BBC Trust, will also say such salaries have not inflated pay in the talent market. The BBC Trust commissioned a review after salary details were leaked last year, including a three-year deal for Jonathan Ross reportedly worth £18m.
It comes after pay details were leaked last year, including a three-year deal for Ross reportedly worth £18m. Speaking ahead of publication, the trust's chairman Sir Michael Lyons said the situation was "not as bad as some people thought it might be".
The BBC defended the talent salaries at a Commons select committee last year. But he warned that more could be done in negotiating contracts and salaries.
Some licence fee-payers, politicians and rival broadcasters have raised concerns the BBC pays their stars too much. Appearing on BBC Breakfast, Sir Michael refused to discuss individual cases, and said the trust's report would not disclose details of star's pay deals.
"It would put the BBC in a very difficult position in relation to retaining staff who could work elsewhere," he said.
New talent
The chairman also rejected suggestions that the BBC had exceeded the going market rate for its most famous faces.
"The BBC doesn't pay more than others and indeed there has been a firmer grip on talent costs in recent years," he said. "In some cases we pay less than others."
But he added: "This is not a green light for the BBC to pay whatever it wants", adding that the corporation should do more to develop new talent.
Some licence fee-payers, politicians and rival broadcasters have raised concerns the BBC pays its stars too much.
The reported Ross deal was said to have influenced multi-million pound contracts struck by ITV to secure the services of Simon Cowell and Ant and Dec.The reported Ross deal was said to have influenced multi-million pound contracts struck by ITV to secure the services of Simon Cowell and Ant and Dec.
But BBC director general Mark Thompson defended the top pay deals in front of a Commons select committee last year, saying that a BBC which did not secure big stars would not please the public.But BBC director general Mark Thompson defended the top pay deals in front of a Commons select committee last year, saying that a BBC which did not secure big stars would not please the public.
The pay review by economists Oliver & Ohlbaum Associates, which began in the autumn, is due out later.The pay review by economists Oliver & Ohlbaum Associates, which began in the autumn, is due out later.