Star women set to sue

THE BBC faces huge payouts to angry female stars who lodge claims for equal pay,

lawyers warned last night.

Every woman who can show she has been underpaid can go to court to claim the difference in wages. They can pocket up to six years of backdated pay plus interest. If just a few big names go to court, the Beeb will have to pay out millions funded by taxpayers. The legal action threat comes after the publication of salaries of BBC employees earning more than £150,000. Chris Evans came out top taking home up to £2.25million per year. Match Of The Day host Gary Lineker earns about £1.8m. The top-earning female star was Strictly Come Dancing host Claudia Winkleman, who rakes in £500,000 Employment lawyer James Watkins said: “The BBC could face millions of pounds in damages if just a few women brought successful equal pay claims. The final sums could be enormous.” Some of the BBC’s most high-profile female personalities have called on the corporation to “act now” to deal with the gender pay gap. Presenters Clare Balding, Sue Barker and Alex Jones are among those who have signed an open letter to Director General Tony Hall. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn told yesterday’s The Andrew Marr Show the BBC “needs to look very hard at itself ” over the “quite astronomical” gender pay gap. Andrew, 57, who is paid up to £449,999, said older women stood little chance of surviving as Beeb presenters. He told his show: “If I had been born Audrey Marr rather than Andrew Marr I would have been out 10 years ago.” A BBC spokesman said fixing the pay imbalance in all sectors was a top priority.