Presenters’ portraits by £20k-a-day photographer

THE BBC hired one of the world’s most expensive photographers to take portraits of its staff – even as bosses were complaining to MPs it could not face more cuts.

British fashion photographer John Rankin, who charges upwards of £20,000 a day, was booked for a photoshoot with Yalda Hakim, a presenter on BBC World News, as part of a marketing campaign to boost the BBC brand overseas.

Miss Hakim, who was born in Afghanistan and brought up in Australia, is one of the main presenters on the BBC global news channel and has also fronted reports for Newsnight.

Her expensive photography session took place on July 8, just days after BBC director general Tony Hall hammered out a new funding deal with the Government and as bosses were warning that it should not be cut.

The photographer is also thought to have taken portraits of Ian Pannell, the BBC’s international correspondent.

Last night, MPs and campaigners accused the Corporation of a ‘ baffling’ and ‘wilful’ waste of public funds. Conservative MP Bill Cash said: ‘Nobody exercised restraint – this is a wilful waste of money. It’s beyond imagination, but not apparently the BBC’s limitless pockets.’

The BBC defended its decision to hire the expensive photographer on the basis that payment had come out of BBC Worldwide, the Corporation’s commercial arm, rather than from the licence fee. A spokesman said: ‘[It] is a non-licence fee funded BBC Worldwide marketing initiative for international audiences that will build awareness of the unique talent behind BBC content – and showcase British creativity to the world.’

Jonathan Isaby, chief executive of the Taxpayers’ Alliance, said: ‘This is a baffling decision. Most commercial organisations get staff photos done, but only the BBC would decide they needed one of the most expensive photographers in the business.’

Tory MP Andrew Percy added: ‘Most of us make do with the camera on our phones, and I’m sure that would have done just fine for a couple of head shots.’