No deal on pay cut for BBC’S Eddie Mair

EDDIE MAIR, the Radio 4 presenter, is the last man standing in the BBC’S attempts to cut the salaries of its male stars, it has been reported.

The host of PM is said to have infuriated managers by failing to agree a new pay deal alongside his colleagues. He is currently one of the BBC’S highest-paid presenters, on £300,000 to £350,000.

While male colleagues had accepted salary reductions in the past year, a source told The Times that Mair had so far been reluctant to follow suit.

The BBC announced earlier this year that Huw Edwards, Nicky Campbell, John Humphrys, Jon Sopel, Nick Robinson and Jeremy Vine had agreed contracts at a reduced rate.

The BBC confirmed that Mair has not agreed a new deal, but said: “It is wrong to suggest Eddie is resisting a pay reduction – we are in ongoing discussions… and he has expressed his willingness to take a pay reduction.”

 Nick Grimshaw will leave the BBC Radio 1 breakfast show, swapping roles with Greg James, the Radio 1 drivetime DJ. The announcement comes two weeks after data revealed that Grimshaw’s show had recorded the second lowest audience figures since records began. His programme shed 600,000 listeners in the first quarter of this year.