Did the BBC deliberately announce a female Doctor Who ahead of salaries report?
THE BBC has been accused of deliberately announcing the new female Doctor Who just days before an annual company report revealing stars salaries is expected to spark a gender pay row.
Jodie Whittaker was unveiled as the very first female Doctor Who on Sunday
Jodie Whittaker’s casting was revealed on Sunday night to much fanfare, with the controversial choice remaining the subject of intense debate and analysis among the show’s fans.
According to industry sources, the timing of the announcement was intended to show the corporation in good light, with one suggesting: “This is deliberate ahead of less positive news for women in the annual report.”
However, the BBC insists the timing is “purely coincidental”.
The BBC insists the timing is 'purely coincidental'
The corporation’s biggest names are braced for intense scrutiny with stars earning more than £150,000 to be named on Wednesday. Reports emerged over the weekend that many top male stars still earn far more than their female colleagues.
Big names expected to top the list of high earners this year include Gary Lineker and John Humphreys.
In the much-anticipated report, earnings are expected to be categorised in £50,000 bands - with chat show host and Eurovision presenter Graham Norton likely to top it with a pay packet of an estimated £2.5 million.
The BBC only have to pay a female Doctor Who 70% that of a male.
— Andy Hemmins (@AndyHemmins) July 17, 2017
BBC boss Tony Hall is expected to defend the figures, which will be released as part of the company’s annual report on Wednesday, by pointing out that the number of stars earning in excess of £150,000 is down 10 per cent in the last year.
Sources say his defence will include claims that over the last four years, 60 per cent of those promoted into this salary bracket have been female.
A source from the BBC told The Mirror: “We want to have parity by 2020 in terms of male and female cast and presenters and we are driving towards that and making headway. We are doing more than any other company in the industry.”
Eurovision host Graham Norton earns an estimated £2.5 million
The source added that Mr Hall is under the impression that the corporation actually pays “significantly less” than channels in the commercial sector, adding: “What Gary Lineker earns at the BBC compared to what he earns at BT Sport are different universes.”
The embarrassing return of the “war of the wages” follows new rules introduced by Theresa May demanding increased transparency over BBC pay packets.
Equal pay - or paying men and woman the same amount to do the same job - has been a legal requirement for more than 40 years.
The UK gender pay gap currently stands at 18.1 per cent for all workers, or 9.4 per cent for full-time staff.
So BBC finally did it?
— TJWFW (@icouldbeahacker) July 16, 2017
They got rid of Capaldi and brought in someone that they could pay 73% of his salary.#DoctorWho #DoctorWho13
Jodie Whittaker is revealed as first female Doctor Who
Turns out the BBC only brought in a female doctor who so that they can pay her less #cuts
— Chandler Mundell (@ChandlerMundell) July 16, 2017
Gary Lineker makes around £1 million from his work with the BBC
Government sources say Culture Secretary Karen Bradley “cares deeply” about pay disparity and is ready to take the BBC to task over the issue.
The Commons Culture committee chairman Damian Collins and chairman of the Commons Women and Equalities committee Maria Miller have also pledged to demand answers over any pay gaps at the corporation.
Culture Secretary Karen Bradley 'cares deeply' about pay disparity
By April next year, all companies with more than 250 employees will have been forced to publish their gender pay gap following a new legal requirement designed to stamp out workplace discrimination.
If employers fail to comply by the April 2018 deadline, they will be contacted by the Equalities and Human Rights Commission.
BBC boss Tony Hall is expected to defend the figures which come out on Wednesday
Companies that discover they do have a gender pay gap will be encouraged to publish an action plan alongside the figures detailing the steps they plan to take to address the problem.
Women and Equalities minister Justine Greening said: “Helping women to reach their full potential isn't only the right thing to do, it makes good economic sense".
Express.co.uk has contacted the BBC for comment.