By Gavin Mackintosh And Sammie Jones-
The BBC discriminatory wage packages tells a big story that raises concerns. Concerns that must be addressed.
The revelations made public about the earnings of BBC stars is both interesting and disappointing. The list revealed yesterday that the top 7 earners were white males, leaving women and black staff on the sidelines. Female presenters were in general earning less than male presenters simply because they are women. This is the first blow to the fundamental principles of equality of opportunity in modern Britain where the UK’s main broadcasting Corporation has been shown to be discriminatory in its pay package.
Heading the list of high female earners was Claudia Winkleson who earns £450-500,000 a year, a wage that looks poor next to Chris Evans 2.2m.
In modern Britain,2017, this inconsistency pointing to discrimination in no uncertain terms is surprising. Sexual discrimination has for years been protected by laws against them, yet the BBC appears to be discriminating against women? We will all have to get to the bottom of this through further probing and campaigning for a change. Perhaps the long serving BBC have not not found a woman or black staff worthy of the top earning positions, or they have simply not tried to vary the distribution of high earning staff.
25 men on the talent list earn over £200,000, compared with just 9 women earning similar figures. . Head of BBC, Lord Hall, admitted ”there is more to do” It must be embarrassing for the BBC and their fat cats unless a reasonable explanation exists for it. Antiques Roadshow presenter Fiona Bruce was revealed to earn between £350,000 and £399,000, news host How Edwards is on £550,000 to £599,999.
The BBC have vowed to achieve equality on air between men and women by 2020. BBC director of radio and education, James Purnell has suggested pay cuts. He told BBC Newsnight programme that quite a lot of men have been taking pay cuts, but did not explain why the gender gap remains so wide and evident.
Asked if he expected more male, on-air talent to take a pay cut, he responded: “I’m not going to start negotiating live on air, but that’s clearly one of the levers we can pull, and we have been doing that.”
We are told that BBC’s political editor Lauren Kaunsberg earns £249,000 a year, whilst news presenter George Alagiah earns in the bracket of£250,000-£299,000 and Radio 4’s PM host Eddie Mair takes home between£300,000 – £349,000. What massively high incomes even the lowest of these high earners get paid.
MEN EARN HUGE WAGE PACKAGES
Checking the men out, Match Of The Day host Gary Lineker earns a handsome £1,750,000 to £1,799,999 bracket. However, BBC breakfast presenters, Louise Minchin and Charlie Stayt are struggling to even enter the £200,000 bracket Former Top Gear host, and Radio 2 DJ, Chris Evans earns between £2.2m and £2.249,999. Linekar is miles above Claire Balding who is paid between £150,000 and £199,000.
Linekar as we know was formerly a football player, and probably earning him the huge wage packet, but Claire Balding is also a star in her own right. Balding is an award winning journalist and author with years of broadcasting experience under her belt. There is no reason she should be rated lower than her colleagues just because they are a man.
Alan Shearer earns between £400,000 and £449,000, over £100,000 higher than Wimbledon’s Sue Barker, who earns between £300,000 and £349,999, behind Alan Shearer at between£400,000 and £449,999
Presenters John Inverdale and Gabby Logan earn between £200,000 and £249,000,with Logan at least rubbing close shoulders with some of the top men.
Radio 2 Breakfast DJ and former Top Gear host Evans earns between £2.2 million and £2,249,999.
Graham Norton is listed as between £850,000 and £899,999 – but as the list only includes cash from licence fee payers, that does not include his chat show, for which the BBC pays an independent production company, which in turn pays his salary. Strictly Come Dancing host and Radio 2 DJ Claudia Winkleman earns between £450,000 and £499,000.
BIG ACTORS ARE BIG EARNERS
Stars of Casualty and EastEnders dominate the highest earning list of actors.
Casualty star Derek Thompson, who plays Charlie Fairhead in the popular medical drama, was revealed to earn between £350,000 and £399,000.
Amanda Mealing, who plays Connie Beauchamp in Casualty and Holby City, were shown to both be on on £250,000 to £299,999.
Adam Woodyatt, Albert Square’s Ian Beale, is one of the top paying EastEnders actors at £200,000 to £249,000, along with newer recruit Danny Dyer (Mick Carter). The sums are very revealing but callfor an urgent need to remedy the intolerable gender gab between men and women.
REDUCTION
Director General Lord Hall told Radio 4’s Today programme that the BBC had reduced its spending on top talent by 25% in the past four years and 10% since last year, when 109 people took home a total of £31 million.
He said: “I completely understand that to lots and lots of people these are very large sums, but we are a global broadcaster in a very competitive market and we have to be competitive – but not foolishly.
“No-one would want us to be paying sums where it’s not at a discount on the market. People expect us to have great broadcasters, great presenters, great stars, but pay them less than they would get on the market. Getting that discount right is very important.” Hall is clearly skipping the hot issue that his corporation has been caught indulging in discriminatory practices and the only important thing is putting that right.