Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
BBC BLOKES MUST TAKE A PAY CUT OR LEAVE
Director General vows to get tough
HIGH earning members of the BBC’S bloated blokes club face huge wage cuts as their humiliated bosses rush to put female staff on equal pay.
And if they don’t like it, they will have no option but to quit.
Under pressure from politicians and viewers – furious over the huge sums raked in by the top 96 stars including Chris Evans and Gary Lineker – BBC Director General Tony Hall promises the gender pay gap will be gone in two years.
But he stressed that would not simply mean raising the salaries of women.
“It can’t cost a lot of money – we haven’t got it,” he said. “Any changes need to be organic. In terms of the 96, that number could get smaller or bigger. We will be managing it actively.”
Instead, the BBC boss is likely to slash the pay of top earners and lower the number of males on at least £150,000 to ensure female talent is paid more evenly.
Newsnight’s Emily Maitlis poses the first test of Mr Hall’s resolve as she negotiates her new contract. The presenter, named Broadcast Journalist of the Year 2017, was said to be “surprised and angry” to learn co-host Evan Davis earns up to £300,000 from the BBC, while she did not even feature in the over-£150,000 bracket.
The presenter even mocked her bosses with a quip in a speech at the Techuk conference on Wednesday, saying: “You’re an industry doing so well, soon you’ll be able to afford a BBC man.”
A BBC spokesman said: “Emily is one of the brightest stars in British journalism. She has been off rota several weeks while we negotiate a new contract and we hope to reach agreement soon.”
It is thought her new deal will be on a par with her male counterparts.
In Newsnight’s case it would be hard to see how Davis could take a massive cut, because he also hosts hit show Dragons’ Den. But despite the complicated pay structures and multiple-show deals, Mr Hall made it clear he would not allow pay to spiral upwards, admitting that “some sums sound gargantuan”. So that really leaves the only option as pay cuts for top stars.
“Our bill for talent is down 25% since I took over and we do live very consciously within our means,” he said.
Mr Hall also confirmed that contract reviews are under way, although a senior source at the BBC stressed there would not be a blanket 10% cut for everyone. Negotiations will take place when contracts end in the next few years.
NEW Doctor Who Jodie Whittaker will be paid the same as outgoing Time Lord Peter Capaldi, the BBC has said.
Director General Tony Hall confirmed there will be “parity” between the two, meaning the former Broadchurch star would earn between £200,000 and £249,999 — the amount Capaldi is listed as earning.
But his salary is thought to be much higher as the show is made by BBC Worldwide, who would “It will be on a case by case basis,” the source said. “But there are going to be changes and Tony is determined to see this through.”
Culture Secretary Karen Bradley said she was “surprised” by differences in pay for the BBC’S male and female stars as MPS urged cuts and an end to the gender pay gap.
The Cabinet minister also told MPS she wants to see gender disparity removed from all employers.
BBC documents revealed the most well-known male stars received far more than their female counterparts.
Radio 2’s Evans topped the list on more than £2million, while the highest paid woman was Claudia Winkleman, on up to £499,999.
Tory MP Mims Davies said: “Media plurality is vital, transparency is vital. On the issue of pay within all media I’d like to remind all employers we have equal
supplement his income. A figure is not declared.
Hall said: “I do think it is time for the 13th Time Lord to be a woman. I’m incredibly excited.”
Yet earlier, Hall had caused confusion by saying: “I would hope that the new female Doctor Who, that Jodie, gets the same as Peter.
“That’s a negotiation I don’t want to get into. I don’t know what Peter Capaldi got.”