Daily Star

Lineker defends his pay

- ■ by ANTONY THROWER antony.thrower@dailystar.co.uk

SUPERMODEL Kate Moss sparkles in a full-length gold leopard print dress.

Kate, 45, proved she is still queen of the catwalk as she arrived at a luxury hotel for the start of Paris Fashion Week. ★

She cut a chic figure in black high heels and large feather-shaped earrings, sporting a huge diamond ring. GARY Lineker has defended his huge BBC wage by insisting that other football TV personalit­ies get double the amount.

The Match Of The Day host was quizzed on his £1.6million pay when he appeared on BBC One’s Breakfast.

Lineker has recently said he is renegotiat­ing his salary with the Beeb and may well take a pay cut.

But the 58-year-old said on the morning show: “There are pundits who earn twice as much as I do.

“It’s very difficult, it’s like when I used to be a footballer. It’s exactly the same. How do you justify the salary you get?

“In the football world, whether it’s on the pitch or in entertainm­ent, it’s hugely competitiv­e and a lot of people want you.

“It gets you in a position where you get a good salary – a really good salary, obviously.

Fortunate

“I’m not going to sit here and pretend I should earn more than a nurse or someone who does a real job.

“Obviously I’m incredibly fortunate and that’s the position. None of us like talking about our salaries.”

When pressed by Breakfast presenter Louise Minchin if he was taking a cut, Lineker revealed he was in negotiatio­ns, adding: “Once we’re in a position we agree a contract I’ll be in a position where I can make some sort of formal or proper statement. “You will have to wait and see.” Several viewers criticised Lineker on social media, with one writing: “It’s not just the money, it’s the smugness with which he supports keeping the rest of us in our place.”

Another said: “Lineker works one hour a week on the BBC to talk b ***** ks. Instead of taking a pay cut give £1.5m to cancer charities.”

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BIG EARNER: The Match Of The Day presenter
■ BIG EARNER: The Match Of The Day presenter

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