Radio 4 Justin: My daughter is outraged that I earn so much for ‘doing nothing’

MANY parents would expect a bit of respect from their teenage children at the idea that they earn more than the Prime Minister.

For BBC Radio 4 presenter Justin Webb, however, the suggestion elicited a blunt response from his 16-year-old daughter Martha, who said: ‘But you don’t do anything.’

The Today host, 55, revealed that her dressing down over his salary, reported to be more than David Cameron’s £143,462 a year, came after he picked her up from school.

He said: ‘My daughter is outraged at the suggestion that I might earn more than the Prime Minister.

‘She has read my name on a list on the internet and is quizzing me on the way home. She declared: “But you don’t do anything” and, after his protestations that he does need to wake rather early to be on air by 6am, added: “But you just read things out. Literally, Daddy, you read for a living. And you pick me up every day”.’

His revelation in Radio Times comes amid outrage over BBC salaries, with critics questioning if the licence fee should be used to pay six or seven-figure sums to media stars.

However, Webb, who is also father to Martha’s twin Sam and Clara, 12, admitted he agrees with her that news broadcasters can be overpaid.

This, he added, can mean they become worse at their jobs by living in an affluent ‘bubble’. Webb said: ‘Those of us who are decently paid already live in another world from millions who struggle to get by.’

His comments come shortly after a White Paper on the future of the BBC revealed that the Corporation will have to reveal the salaries of staff on more than £450,000 a year.

While Webb is believed to be below this benchmark, he said the issue of pay for news broadcasters is a particularly pressing problem at the BBC ‘since the salaries come straight from licence payers’.

The BBC’s top earners include Chris Evans on £1.6million, Gary Lineker on £1.8million and Graham Norton on £1.3million.

Webb’s Today co-host John Humphrys is paid £375,000 although this also covers his work on Mastermind. At least 42 of the Corporation’s TV stars are paid more than Mr Cameron, according to website Heat Street.