Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Nolan denies ‘hiding’ extra cash during radio grilling
pay laws, for people for all backgrounds doing the same job to be paid equally.”
Labour’s leader in the Lords said that while some criticism of the BBC was “perhaps unfair,” on the issue of gender pay equality it “appears justified”. Baroness Smith of Basildon told the Lords it was “hard to understand why the male Y-chromosome justifies a higher salary”.
Lady Smith said all employers should be required to publish gender pay audits.
Culture, Media and Sport Minister Lord Ashton of Hyde said the Government did not discuss equal pay with the BBC but believed in transparency, which was why it had required the salary details to be published. Employers of over 250 staff, were required by law to publish their gender pay gap for the first time at the end of the financial year.
He said yesterday’s publication of the earnings of 96 staff on more than £150,000 showed a two-thirds, one-third “split” in favour of men.
Lineker’s agent Jon Holmes yesterday defended his client’s large BBC salary, arguing “the market has set the rate”.
The broadcaster has revealed that it paid the Match Of The Day presenter between £1.75 and £1.8million between
DEFIANT Chris Evans has said his mum’s advice to “earn what you can, when you can, while you can” means he has no shame over his bloated BBC salary.
The Radio 2 host, who is the BBC’S highest earner on more April
2016 and April 2017, making him the second highest paid star behind Evans.
Mr Holmes said the huge pay gap between men and women is partly the fault of the agents who represent the female talent. He added: “The broadcaster is to blame too, they should pay them [women] the same money.” than £2.2million a year, said he called Minnie, 91, for guidance on how to handle questions yesterday.
The 51-year-old added: “So there you are – I’m going with what my mum said.” STEPHEN Nolan would support the BBC publishing the amount it pays his production company as he faced down accusations of “hiding” his additional corporation earnings.
The 43-year-old earns between £400,000 and £449,000 as an individual, but the BBC also pays his company Third Street Studios, of which he is the sole shareholder, for other shows he has created.
During an on-air showdown on his morning radio show, which saw Stormont Assembly member and former barrister
Jim Allister assume the role of interviewer, Mr Nolan was repeatedly asked to disclose the total amount he receives from licence fee-payers.
He said the information regarding his production company was commercially sensitive and it would be the BBC’S decision to make it public, adding: “I am so not hiding behind the BBC that I am publicly saying to the BBC today that if they wish to publish any of the information you have asked me for, I will support them doing so – it is a management decision.”
Mr Allister, the leader of the Traditional Unionist Voice party, claimed Mr Nolan’s stance was in contrast to his reputation as a “champion of transparency”.
But the broadcaster said: “You are an intelligent man and you know the difference between want to tell you and able to tell you.
“I can’t sit here and decide BBC policy in front of you – I am not a manager.”
Mr Nolan added he was an “entrepreneur” who had set up a company trying to create new television ideas.
He said to Mr Allister: “Do you judge me badly by being a guy without a silver spoon in my mouth who is trying round the clock to build a business? That’s what I am doing.”