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Gary Lineker is BBC's best paid star again, but women close gap Gary Lineker is BBC's best paid star again, but women close gap
(32 minutes later)
Gary Lineker has maintained his status as the BBC’s highest earner as the broadcaster’s leading male sports presenters refused to take pay cuts, although many of the corporation’s leading women have enjoyed substantial wage increases.Gary Lineker has maintained his status as the BBC’s highest earner as the broadcaster’s leading male sports presenters refused to take pay cuts, although many of the corporation’s leading women have enjoyed substantial wage increases.
The Match of the Day host took home £1.75m from the corporation last year, while his fellow pundit Alan Shearer got £440,000. Other high-earning sports pundits include Jermaine Jenas on £210,000 a year and Ian Wright on £205,000, while John McEnroe earns £190,000 for taking part in the BBC’s Wimbledon coverage.The Match of the Day host took home £1.75m from the corporation last year, while his fellow pundit Alan Shearer got £440,000. Other high-earning sports pundits include Jermaine Jenas on £210,000 a year and Ian Wright on £205,000, while John McEnroe earns £190,000 for taking part in the BBC’s Wimbledon coverage.
While many leading male news and current affairs presenters – including Huw Edwards, Jeremy Vine, and Nicky Campbell – took pay cuts following a public outcry over their salaries, the sports department instead increased the amount it pays to on-screen pundits such as Shearer and Wright in the last year.While many leading male news and current affairs presenters – including Huw Edwards, Jeremy Vine, and Nicky Campbell – took pay cuts following a public outcry over their salaries, the sports department instead increased the amount it pays to on-screen pundits such as Shearer and Wright in the last year.
The figures, contained in the corporation’s annual report, will come under increased scrutiny after the BBC announced plans to scrap the free TV licence fee for most over-75s, arguing it needed the money to protect its investment in programming.The figures, contained in the corporation’s annual report, will come under increased scrutiny after the BBC announced plans to scrap the free TV licence fee for most over-75s, arguing it needed the money to protect its investment in programming.
The BBC chairman, David Clementi, blamed the government for the cuts to free licences. He said: “This was not a decision we wanted to take and it was decision we were required to take by legislation.” He also said it was “nonsense” to suggest that cutting the salaries of leading stars would cover the cost of providing the benefit to over-75s: “The sums don’t add up.” The BBC chairman, David Clementi, blamed the government for the cuts to free licences. He said: “This was not a decision we wanted to take and it was a decision we were required to take by legislation.” He also said it was “nonsense” to suggest that cutting the salaries of leading stars would cover the cost of providing the benefit to over-75s: “The sums don’t add up.”
The total amount the BBC paid all on-air talent rose by almost £11m in the last year – an annual increase of more than 7% to £158.6m. Amid tough market conditions for the media industry, the BBC also hired more than 1,000 new staff. In total, the corporation, including commercial operations such as BBC Studios, grew employee numbers from 21,431 to 22,401.The total amount the BBC paid all on-air talent rose by almost £11m in the last year – an annual increase of more than 7% to £158.6m. Amid tough market conditions for the media industry, the BBC also hired more than 1,000 new staff. In total, the corporation, including commercial operations such as BBC Studios, grew employee numbers from 21,431 to 22,401.
The increase in staff came despite the BBC reporting a drop of almost £200m in annual income from £5.06bn to £4.88bn. Income from the licence fee dropped by 3.7% year on year to £3.69bn, mainly due to the phased reduction in government funding of free TV licences for over-75s.The increase in staff came despite the BBC reporting a drop of almost £200m in annual income from £5.06bn to £4.88bn. Income from the licence fee dropped by 3.7% year on year to £3.69bn, mainly due to the phased reduction in government funding of free TV licences for over-75s.
The corporation has struggled with pay since it was forced to disclose the salaries of all staff who earn more than £150,000 a year. The first annual disclosure, in 2017, exposed the radical differences in salaries between many leading on-air men and women.The corporation has struggled with pay since it was forced to disclose the salaries of all staff who earn more than £150,000 a year. The first annual disclosure, in 2017, exposed the radical differences in salaries between many leading on-air men and women.
Since then, many leading BBC men have been shamed into taking substantial pay cuts, although some such as Chris Evans – who the disclosures show took home £8,500 a programme for presenting the BBC Radio 2 breakfast show – have chosen to leave the corporation.Since then, many leading BBC men have been shamed into taking substantial pay cuts, although some such as Chris Evans – who the disclosures show took home £8,500 a programme for presenting the BBC Radio 2 breakfast show – have chosen to leave the corporation.
The BBC’s highest-earning woman is Zoe Ball, the new Radio 2 breakfast show host, who took home £370,000 in the 12 months to April but will earn less than her male predecessor. Other female high earners include Claudia Winkleman, Vanessa Feltz and Lauren Laverne.The BBC’s highest-earning woman is Zoe Ball, the new Radio 2 breakfast show host, who took home £370,000 in the 12 months to April but will earn less than her male predecessor. Other female high earners include Claudia Winkleman, Vanessa Feltz and Lauren Laverne.
The Woman’s Hour presenter Jane Garvey told the Today programme that “perhaps it would have been better to cut more male salaries rather than to up some female salaries. I absolutely get that.”The Woman’s Hour presenter Jane Garvey told the Today programme that “perhaps it would have been better to cut more male salaries rather than to up some female salaries. I absolutely get that.”
The BBC’s overall gender pay gap decreased from 7.6% in 2018 to 6.7%, substantially better than many other media organisations. The gender pay gap at the Guardian’s parent company was 8.4% last year, compared with 18.4% at the Financial Times and 23.4% at the Daily Telegraph.The BBC’s overall gender pay gap decreased from 7.6% in 2018 to 6.7%, substantially better than many other media organisations. The gender pay gap at the Guardian’s parent company was 8.4% last year, compared with 18.4% at the Financial Times and 23.4% at the Daily Telegraph.
The BBC’s annual pay disclosures only cover staff who earn £150,000 a year while working directly for the corporation.The BBC’s annual pay disclosures only cover staff who earn £150,000 a year while working directly for the corporation.
It does not cover those who are employed by independent production companies to make programmes on the BBC’s behalf – including shows such as Strictly Come Dancing, which are made by the commercial BBC Studios arm. As a result, many prominent figures associated with major BBC programmes do not feature on the list.It does not cover those who are employed by independent production companies to make programmes on the BBC’s behalf – including shows such as Strictly Come Dancing, which are made by the commercial BBC Studios arm. As a result, many prominent figures associated with major BBC programmes do not feature on the list.
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Gender pay gapGender pay gap
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