Is BBC’s £350,000 Mair off air over pay-cut row?

Tflagship afternoon current affairs programme, PM, which the 52-year-old Dundonian has presented since 2003.

Mair has not presented PM for over three weeks, last appearing on Thursday, January 18. I can disclose that he appears to be locked in battle with his BBC bosses who want him to take a cut in his salary — currently in the £300,000 - £350,000 bracket — thereby emulating the example set by the Today programme’s John Humphrys, so as to align his remuneration with female broadcasters of similar standing.

‘His prolonged absence from PM is definitely because he is refusing a pay cut,’ I am told.

Carolyn Quinn, 56, has presented the programme in his place, with Caroline Wyatt, 50, deputising on one occasion.

The stand-off may be exacerbated by the nature of Mair’s professional relationship with the BBC. If he is a member a staff, the authorities will need his agreement before trimming his pay package; if not, he may be tempted to depart for greener financial pastures.

The BBC tells me: ‘Eddie has been on holiday. He’s due back on air next week.’ They will not comment on whether his negotiations have been concluded.

John Humphrys was said to be displeased that Mair was the only one of his BBC colleagues to read, on air, the now legendary exchange which followed Carrie Gracie’s resignation as BBC China editor after discovering she was earning far less than her male counterparts.

In comments made to Jon Sopel, Humphrys teased the BBC’s North America editor, asking: ‘How much of your salary are you prepared to hand over to Carrie Gracie to keep her?’

Humphrys joked; ‘I’ve handed over more than you f***ing earn, but I’m still left with more than anybody else and that seems to be entirely just.’ o fans, Radio 4’s awardwinning presenter Eddie Mair is a fearless inquisitor who once forced Boris Johnson to deny he was a ‘nasty piece of work’. So they will be dismayed by his protracted absence from the station’s