Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Five male BBC presenters agree to pay cut over equal pay revelations

The BBC published a list of its top-earners in July 2017, showing significant pay gaps between men and women.

SOME LEADING MALE presenters at the BBC have agreed to take a pay cut after revelations over equal pay.

According to BBC News, Jeremy Vine, John Humphrys, Huw Edwards, Jon Sopel and Nicky Campbell have all agreed, either formally or in principle, to reduce their salaries.

8q8nwGmn Top left to bottom right: Jeremy Vine, John Humphrys, Huw Edwards, Nicky Campbell PA Images PA Images

The agreements come after BBC’s China editor Carrie Gracie resigned from her position in protest at unequal pay between male and female international editors.

In July 2017, the BBC published a list of its top earners, setting out the pay for staff earning more than £150,000, with two-third of stars raking in more than that being men.

BBC Radio 2′s Chris Evans topped the list, earning between £2.2 million and £2.25 million in 2016/17.

The highest-paid female, Claudia Winkleman, earned strikingly less – between £450,000 and £500,000.

John Humphrys, who presents BBC Radio 4′s Today programme, was shown to earn between £600,000 and £649,99 in 2016/17

Jeremy Vine, a Radio 2 presenter, earned between £700,000 and £749,999.

Nicky Campbell, the Radio 5 Live Breakfast presenter, earned between £400,000 and £449,999.

Huw Edwards raked in up to £599,999 and Jon Sopel took in up to £249,999.

The BBC said it is not yet known how much the reductions in salary will be.

The broadcaster’s media editor, Amol Rajan, said whilst competition in the entertainment industry has intensified, the opposite has happened in news.

“Many of those now taking pay cuts secured generous deals years ago,” Rajan said.

“That world has now disappeared – and these presenters now accept that a chunk of their salaries will have to disappear with it.”

Off-air controversy

Both Sopel and Humphrys caused controversy earlier this month when an off-air conversation about the pay gap issues was recorded and published.

During the exchange, both men reportedly joked about “handing over” pay to keep Gracie in the role, according to the BBC.

Humphrys has since defended his comments as a “jokey” exchange with an “old friend”.

The BBC has said it was “deeply unimpressed” by the exchange.

Read: Government to discuss tackling Ireland’s gender pay gap with businesses and trade unions

More: RTÉ’s highest earners: Men outnumber women by 2 to 1

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
103 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute munsterman
    Favourite munsterman
    Report
    Jul 5th 2017, 7:14 AM

    Everything is a cartel in Ireland. And the people are too submissive to do anything about it..

    223
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Scundered
    Favourite Scundered
    Report
    Jul 5th 2017, 7:30 AM

    @munsterman: no fight left in the Irish anymore. Always voting for same old failed pattern.

    134
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Nick Allen
    Favourite Nick Allen
    Report
    Jul 5th 2017, 8:18 AM

    @Scundered:

    There is no alternative to vote for unfortunately

    48
    See 14 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Timmy
    Favourite Timmy
    Report
    Jul 5th 2017, 8:28 AM

    @Scundered: Go out and do something about it then and stop moaning on the journal

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute michael
    Favourite michael
    Report
    Jul 5th 2017, 8:39 AM

    @Nick Allen: Of course there is. Even if you have reservations about the alternative, you have no one to blame but yourself if you keep voting for the same punishment.

    32
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute ray.farrelly
    Favourite ray.farrelly
    Report
    Jul 5th 2017, 8:43 AM

    Nick Allen. Just like there is always a choice. There is also an alterntive. You may not like it but it is there.

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Nick Allen
    Favourite Nick Allen
    Report
    Jul 5th 2017, 8:47 AM

    @michael:

    Reservations is an understatement. The alternative to FF/FG is SF, AAA / Solidarity, Labour or independents. SF and the AAA do not have a workable fiscal policy to lead the whole country forward while Labour is just a spent force and the independents are just looking to local issues.

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Nick Allen
    Favourite Nick Allen
    Report
    Jul 5th 2017, 8:50 AM

    @ray.farrelly:

    By saying there is no alternative the implication is that there is no credible alternative. It is common use of English to leave out the word credible.

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Good Early
    Favourite Good Early
    Report
    Jul 5th 2017, 9:04 AM

    @Nick Allen: “do not have a workable fiscal policy” Really? Wasn’t Sinn Fein’s budget proposal the only fully costed one by the Department of Finance? The other were wrong on their fiscal space.

    That aside. I believe if SF took office many of their detractors would be silenced, but many of their voter base would be sorely disappointed, as they would shift to centre (right). I would consider them a centrist party.

    Liebour are left in name only. They wrought terrible destruction on the poorest in society during the recession, and are the posterchild of privatisation. You can hardly call that left wing!

    Nick’s account is one that comes here to agree with everyone, but tell them “there’s no alternative, there’s no alternative….” Not with that attitude.

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute ray.farrelly
    Favourite ray.farrelly
    Report
    Jul 5th 2017, 9:18 AM

    Nick. Allen. No credible alternative. According to who?

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Nick Allen
    Favourite Nick Allen
    Report
    Jul 5th 2017, 9:19 AM

    @Good Early:

    I am not sure I understand what you summation of my account is, I doubt you even understand what you have written.

    My view of the alternatives for governing Ireland is simply my view. FG/FF is the safest pair of hands we have at the moment. The others are two skewed in their ideology and do not look to look after the whole country. They target low income earners and unemployment with promises of increasing tax and lots of freebies. If I wanted to live in Venezuela I would move there.

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Nick Allen
    Favourite Nick Allen
    Report
    Jul 5th 2017, 9:20 AM

    @ray.farrelly:

    The electorate which do not put them in a position of power when they vote at every general election

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute P C
    Favourite P C
    Report
    Jul 5th 2017, 9:22 AM

    @ray.farrelly: according to anybody with a brain. It was this Left alternative that called for the nationalisation of Dell, wants to increase corporation tax and drive businesses and jobs out if the country. Why would anyone vote for a worse alternative???

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Scundered
    Favourite Scundered
    Report
    Jul 5th 2017, 9:25 AM

    @Timmy: welcome to the Internet timmy, took you a while.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mary Murphy
    Favourite Mary Murphy
    Report
    Jul 5th 2017, 10:28 AM

    @Good Early: I certainly won’t be ever voting SF. All they care about is the people on social welfare who won’t pay and won’t work and no I’m not talking about those unfortunate enough to have lost jobs but the ones who never worked and won’t work. And they expect us to keep that show on the road. No thanks. So that’s no alternative.

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Nick Allen
    Favourite Nick Allen
    Report
    Jul 5th 2017, 11:28 AM

    @Mary Murphy:

    With you on that Mary. I too have a lot of compassion for genuine people on welfare and I fully agree that the tax payers should pay their tax and these people should receive welfare. The SF philosophy looks to want to feed on lazy scroungers for voters and pushes the ‘lets not pay for anything and tax the workers’ agenda far too much

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute P C
    Favourite P C
    Report
    Jul 5th 2017, 11:33 AM

    @Mary Murphy: well said Mary. Sinn Fein seems adapt their economic policy to go with whatever is flavour of the month.
    Flavour of the month economics doesn’t work.

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Peter Smyth
    Favourite Peter Smyth
    Report
    Jul 5th 2017, 7:19 AM

    Any cuts to the cost of living or rise in the minimum wage only ever results in increased rental/house prices. Pure greed.

    93
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute YouHaveGotToBeJoking
    Favourite YouHaveGotToBeJoking
    Report
    Jul 5th 2017, 7:35 AM

    Just over €24,000 annual salary…”hang on while I go with my €85,000 mortgage and €10,000 deposit to pick between all the sub €100,000 properties around to start a family. Seeeesh, better look sub €50,000 everything just keeps getting pushed up by competing bids”

    84
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Thaddius T Sawballs
    Favourite Thaddius T Sawballs
    Report
    Jul 5th 2017, 7:12 AM

    Most of the food is processed muck

    Meat is still an outrageous price

    99
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Nick Allen
    Favourite Nick Allen
    Report
    Jul 5th 2017, 8:21 AM

    @Thaddius T Sawballs:

    It’s entirely your choice what food is put in the shopping trolley and it is very easy to avoid processed muck and generally much cheaper.

    42
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Niallers
    Favourite Niallers
    Report
    Jul 5th 2017, 8:36 AM

    @Nick Allen: No need to eat dead animal. Stay away from the processed “food” .

    Veg in Lidl or Aldi is cheap and the stock turns over so quick it’s usually fresher than Dunnes/Tesco/Supervalue.

    26
    See 2 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Nick Allen
    Favourite Nick Allen
    Report
    Jul 5th 2017, 8:52 AM

    @Niallers:

    But our bodies are designed to eat dead animal and it is a good source of protein, widely available, creates huge employment and when prepared properly it is extremely tasty

    21
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Niallers
    Favourite Niallers
    Report
    Jul 5th 2017, 9:00 AM

    @Nick Allen: I agree it creates loads of employment and that it can be tasty but you actually don’t need it.

    B12 vitamin for sure but you can get that from eggs, milk or supplement.

    When you look into it you really don’t need to have any animal killed. Plenty of other food choices out there.

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Adrian
    Favourite Adrian
    Report
    Jul 5th 2017, 8:16 AM

    It’s probably the reason also why dublin is losing out to frankfurt in getting all the banking jobs post brexit. We’re paying the price of our housing crisis and having politicians who can’t run the country properly.

    49
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Nick Allen
    Favourite Nick Allen
    Report
    Jul 5th 2017, 8:29 AM

    @Adrian:

    Losing out to Frankfurt in getting all the banking job as a result of Brexit.

    Care to elaborate on this with some facts?

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Adrian
    Favourite Adrian
    Report
    Jul 5th 2017, 10:14 AM
    7
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Nick Allen
    Favourite Nick Allen
    Report
    Jul 5th 2017, 10:24 AM

    @Adrian:

    I mention of any jobs moving to FF in that article. That is an pinion which says FF is well placed to attract jobs with the main reason being that the central bank is there. It even says the only expect about 200 jobs in the next few years.

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gerard Heery
    Favourite Gerard Heery
    Report
    Jul 5th 2017, 8:01 AM

    Timber log cabins to live in oh wait the government can’t get half the value the cabin in taxes,they don’t fluxuate madly in property tax,they’re not valuble enough for the unfair deal scheme,and the don’t turn every one into an indentured slave for life with a monster morgage, and a property developer can’t reef the living daylights out of the customers because any one with hands can fit one together

    58
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Colin Morris
    Favourite Colin Morris
    Report
    Jul 5th 2017, 8:50 AM

    Any company that pays less than living wage is a human rights abuser and needs to be identified as such.

    36
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mark DeFriest
    Favourite Mark DeFriest
    Report
    Jul 5th 2017, 9:37 AM

    20c an hour extra. 8 quid a week. I don’t know I might start looking at investing in property abroad with this generous windfall.
    And a new car.

    28
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mary Murphy
    Favourite Mary Murphy
    Report
    Jul 5th 2017, 10:25 AM

    Cheaper food thanks to Ali and Lidl. Not to our government.

    28
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute ChuckE
    Favourite ChuckE
    Report
    Jul 5th 2017, 8:58 AM

    The living wage means absolutely nothing as those in need of it won’t get it. Until the minimum wage is linked to inflation government and think tank ideas like the living wage are completely pointless

    25
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute David Knight
    Favourite David Knight
    Report
    Jul 5th 2017, 9:11 AM

    It’s only a “living” wage if you exclude putting a roof over your head, not needing transport, and living off the cheapest processed food that your tiny money will buy.

    19
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Terry O'Callaghan
    Favourite Terry O'Callaghan
    Report
    Jul 5th 2017, 10:06 AM

    Food prices are not down… a friend of mine his health insurance was €3200 . Not down but up. !! Who are they kidding.. social welfare should now follow this trend..

    13
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mark Walsh
    Favourite Mark Walsh
    Report
    Jul 5th 2017, 11:01 AM

    What a croc of s@@@te
    What is it going to do for people telling employers etc that a PC living wage hourly rate is €11.70 an hour …..never going to happen especially when you have government sponsored slavery schemes around
    C€€€st why do we have so many gobsh@@es in this country

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Andi Black
    Favourite Andi Black
    Report
    Jul 5th 2017, 2:01 PM

    Low skill/no skill jobs should be geared towards students (including secondary students) and those who have low skills or no skills as a starting point towards their future careers, not a career choice.

    4
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel

 
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds