BBC has 41 presenters 'earning more than Prime Minister - including little known hosts'
THE BBC has 41 presenters and reporters who make more money than the Prime Minister - including a slew of little-known stars, it has been claimed.
Some of the BBC presenters who are allegedly making more than the Prime Minister
A leaked list of TV and radio personalities allegedly revealed some less-likely names among the genuine stars who get paid more than David Cameron’s £143,462 per year.
The likes of The Today Progamme’s Mishal Husain and Sarah Montague and newsreader Jane Hill and Clive Myrie are reportedly on a similar pay scale to such luminaries as Andrew Marr, Chris Evans and Graham Norton.
It is claimed the figures were leaked to website Heat Street by BBC staff who support plans to force it to publish the salaries of on-screen takent who make more than £150,000.
Eddie Mair is reported to earn more than £400,000 a year
The Corporation says it will instead release a rough idea of the presenters who make more than £450,000 - the salary of Director General Tony Hall.
Radio Four’s Eddie Mair has been revealed to have made £425,000 a year, and DJ and Top Gear star Chris Evans has admitted he makes “too much”.
And one of the 41 alleged mega-earners attracted accusations of hypocrisy last week.
Arts Editor Will Gompertz was slammed for asking director Jodie Foster how much George Clooney and Julia Roberts - the stars of her latest movie - how much they were paid despite the BBC not doing the same.
Huw Edwards is on the leaked list
It’s the hypocrisy of the BBC
Tory MP Andrew Bridgen told the Mail on Sunday: “It’s the hypocrisy of the BBC – asking someone else how much they are paying people when it has strenuously resisted transparency on how it spends its money.”
Mr Gompertz has previously denied making as much as £150,000.
A BBC spokesperson said: “Given Heat Street has previously published wildly inaccurate claims on BBC pay despite being told it's inaccurate, we'd suggest any further claims are taken with a large heap of salt.”
Matt Le Blanc and Chris Evans
Graham Norton pays tribute to Sir Terry Wogan on Eurovision
The presenters who are alleged to have made more than the Prime Minister
Graham Norton – Radio 2/Graham Norton show
Chris Evans – Radio 2/Top Gear
Gary Lineker – Match of the Day
David Dimbleby – Question Time
Huw Edwards – News presenter
Fiona Bruce – News presenter/various TV programmes
Steve Wright – Radio 2
Jeremy Vine – Radio 2/various TV programmes
Andrew Marr – Andrew Marr show/Radio 4 work
Matt LeBlanc – Top Gear
Mishal Husain – Radio 4 Today
Nick Robinson – Radio 4 Today
John Humphrys – Radio 4 Today
Justin Webb – Radio 4 Today
Sarah Montague – Radio 4 Today
Jim Naughtie – Radio 4 Today/Bookclub
Alan Yentob – Imagine
Evan Davis – Newsnight
Emily Maitlis – Newsnight
Kirsty Wark – Newsnight
Nicky Campbell – Radio 5 Live Breakfast Show/ The Big Questions BBC1
Clive Myrie – News presenter
Gavin Esler – News presenter
Will Gompertz has denied being on more than £150,000 a year
George Alagiah – News presenter
Simon Mayo – Radio 2 presenter
Ken Bruce – Radio 2 presenter
Claudia Winkleman – Radio 2/Strictly Come Dancing/The Film Programme
Tess Daly – Strictly Come Dancing
Laura Kuenssberg – Political editor
John Simpson – World Affairs editor
Sophie Raworth – News/current affairs presenter
Martha Kearney – Radio 4 presenter
Will Gompertz – Arts editor
Kamal Ahmed – Economics editor
James Landale – Diplomatic Correspondent
Reeta Chakrabarti – News presenter
Andrew Neil – Daily Politics/This Week presenter
Jane Hill – News presenter
Jon Sopel – North America editor
Sarah Smith – Scotland editor
Eddie Mair – Radio 4 PM