BBC stars cash in with extra appearances outside of work

BBC presenters are earning up to £20,000 a day by carrying out non-bbc work on the side, according to a register of outside interests.

Dan Walker, the BBC Breakfast presenter, hosted two events in a single day, each paying up to £10,000.

Huw Edwards appeared at four events in the space of a month, making at least £25,000 although the true figure is hidden and could be much higher.

The BBC’S register of external events, released quarterly, shows the levels to which some presenters will go to earn extra money.

On a Friday in February, Mr Walker hosted a daytime event for Best Companies. Within hours he was hosting a second event, details of which were not included on the register. But each assignment paid £5,000 to £10,000. His BBC salary is £295,000 to £299,999.

BBC sources said Mr Walker was not hosting Breakfast that day, and was free to take on other work.

A week later he earned a further £5,000 to £10,000 with work for Stellify, a television production company.

Mr Edwards had a busy March, beginning with a £5,000 to £10,000 job hosting an event for the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investment. This was followed by work for Bauer Media, the radio and magazine firm, which also paid £5,000 to £10,000. A week later he earned more than £10,000 – the exact amount is undisclosed – presenting the inaugural British Champion Awards for Business Matters magazine. He ended the month with another £5,000 to £10,000 job for UMAL, which provides insurance for universities. His BBC salary is £425,000 to £429,999.

The presenter has suggested that he will leave the BBC when his contract expires next year. Mr Walker leaves Breakfast next week after signing a deal to become the face of Channel 5 news.

Other presenters charging £5,000 to £10,000 per appearance include Naga Munchetty, Kirsty Wark, Nick Robinson and Frank Gardner.