Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
It’s Bull.. we can’t all be paid same
SINCE the BBC’S gender pay gap was revealed the clamour has been for hosts on the same show to be paid the same.
But Bill Turnbull says the Corporation should be free to give different amounts.
He did not mention gender, but said: “Two presenters never do exactly the same job. You have to take into account experience and what you bring, so you can’t always have people on the same money. I am so glad I don’t work for the BBC any more. I don’t think talent pay was reported particularly well. “One presenter is in a different pay band to another and people say ‘that’s awful’ but don’t take into account other programmes they do, different days, and that sort of thing.” The Classic FM star, who hosted BBC Breakfast for 15 years, also gave his verdict on his replacement Dan Walker. Bill, 61, said: “I miss the team and I miss the fun and adrenaline. Dan is doing very well. It is difficult for someone who hasn’t worked in news to come in and take that role over but they look very comfortable and are keeping their figures up.”
He enjoyed his appearance on Good Morning Britain to see his EX-BBC Breakfast co-host Susanna Reid and “to wind up” her sidekick Piers Morgan. Bill said: “He is a force of TV nature – Marmite by the gallon. You like him or loathe him.”
Bill hosts Classic FM’S 25th Birthday Concert from Liverpool Philharmonic Hall tomorrow, 7.30pm (100-102 FM and digital).