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| Graham Norton says BBC pay-offs are an 'own goal' | Graham Norton says BBC pay-offs are an 'own goal' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Chat show host Graham Norton has criticised the BBC for severance pay-offs awarded to senior staff, calling them an "own goal" for the corporation. | Chat show host Graham Norton has criticised the BBC for severance pay-offs awarded to senior staff, calling them an "own goal" for the corporation. |
| Norton, one of the BBC's highest paid stars, said it was "extraordinary" that in a time of cuts, some BBC staff were being "handed sacks of cash". | Norton, one of the BBC's highest paid stars, said it was "extraordinary" that in a time of cuts, some BBC staff were being "handed sacks of cash". |
| "It defies belief," the TV and radio presenter told the Radio Times. | "It defies belief," the TV and radio presenter told the Radio Times. |
| The BBC paid £25m to 150 outgoing executives over three years - £2m more than their contracts stipulated. | The BBC paid £25m to 150 outgoing executives over three years - £2m more than their contracts stipulated. |
| In July, the National Audit Office criticised the payments, saying the BBC risked "public trust". | In July, the National Audit Office criticised the payments, saying the BBC risked "public trust". |
| The corporation's new director general, Tony Hall, introduced a £150,000 cap on severance pay for senior managers in September. | The corporation's new director general, Tony Hall, introduced a £150,000 cap on severance pay for senior managers in September. |
| 'Extraordinary' | 'Extraordinary' |
| Norton, 50, presents a show on BBC Radio 2 as well as The Graham Norton Show on Friday nights on BBC One. | |
| He is paid through production company So Television, which he sold to ITV last year. According to filings at Companies House, he received £2.61m in 2012 for "presenter fees, production fees and royalties". | He is paid through production company So Television, which he sold to ITV last year. According to filings at Companies House, he received £2.61m in 2012 for "presenter fees, production fees and royalties". |
| His criticisms echo those of Sir David Attenborough, who said last month that the salaries paid to senior BBC staff were a "huge embarrassment". | His criticisms echo those of Sir David Attenborough, who said last month that the salaries paid to senior BBC staff were a "huge embarrassment". |
| "The BBC is in my view one of the most important strands in the cultural life of this country... and it is going through a bad patch," he said. | "The BBC is in my view one of the most important strands in the cultural life of this country... and it is going through a bad patch," he said. |
| "I just hope that it will emerge from the bad patch with the standards that made it great still there." | "I just hope that it will emerge from the bad patch with the standards that made it great still there." |
| Norton also said the corporation was "scoring way too many own goals", but said he was optimistic for the future after the appointment of Tony Hall, and a new management team at BBC One. . | Norton also said the corporation was "scoring way too many own goals", but said he was optimistic for the future after the appointment of Tony Hall, and a new management team at BBC One. . |
| "You hope we can start again and that those sort of mistakes won't continue to be made," he said. | "You hope we can start again and that those sort of mistakes won't continue to be made," he said. |
| "Because it did seem extraordinary in a time of cuts where you were asking everyone who works for the BBC who's loyal and doing a good job to tighten their belts and take a reduction in pay, while those people who'd dragged the BBC into disrepute were being handed sacks of cash. It defies belief." | "Because it did seem extraordinary in a time of cuts where you were asking everyone who works for the BBC who's loyal and doing a good job to tighten their belts and take a reduction in pay, while those people who'd dragged the BBC into disrepute were being handed sacks of cash. It defies belief." |
| Norton, who also presents the Eurovision for the BBC, said he would only consider switching to ITV "if they had a lorry load of cash outside my door. | Norton, who also presents the Eurovision for the BBC, said he would only consider switching to ITV "if they had a lorry load of cash outside my door. |
| "I can't imagine what would make me go. Who's to say? Because I don't think I would work on ITV." | "I can't imagine what would make me go. Who's to say? Because I don't think I would work on ITV." |
| The Graham Norton Show - now in its 14th series - moved to BBC One in 2009, and took over Jonathan Ross's Friday night slot a year later. | The Graham Norton Show - now in its 14th series - moved to BBC One in 2009, and took over Jonathan Ross's Friday night slot a year later. |
| The most recent series had an average audience of 3.77m viewers. | The most recent series had an average audience of 3.77m viewers. |
| In response to Norton's interview, the BBC said: "When Director General Tony Hall arrived in post in April, he took immediate action on severance payments by introducing a cap, which was implemented in September 2013. | In response to Norton's interview, the BBC said: "When Director General Tony Hall arrived in post in April, he took immediate action on severance payments by introducing a cap, which was implemented in September 2013. |
| "The senior manager pay bill has reduced by more than 30% since August 2009 and the BBC is saving £37m every year as a result of reducing the number of senior managers." | "The senior manager pay bill has reduced by more than 30% since August 2009 and the BBC is saving £37m every year as a result of reducing the number of senior managers." |