The BBC plunges into huge pay raises for its top stars, despite the company claiming it needs to cut costs as critics call for the license fee to be cut
Six of the top ten earning stars saw their wages rise year on year, according to the broadcaster’s annual report.
But despite this, Director-General Tim Davie claimed the BBC has “displayed incredible restraint” in the “talent” wage market.
About half of the organization’s 74 best on-screen actors got a pay raise last year – including Naga Munchetty with a raise of more than £100,000.
The number of stars now receiving six-figure sums had risen from 172 to 192, while the wages of this group also rose from nearly £32 million to £34.6 million.
Critics last night said it was “high time” that the TV tax was abolished and that taxpayers’ money did not end up in the pockets of “media millionaires”.
They pointed out that these sums had been paid out despite many over-75s now having to pay for TV licenses after the BBC changed the rules.
John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said the company “would rather take out retirees than wasteful diversity budgets and top salaries” after it ended free licenses for over-75s.
“The release of their latest annual report today shows exactly where your TV tax is going: straight into the back pockets of their big hitters and top executives,” he said. The Express†
He said the salaries of some presenters have risen, adding: “In the back office, CEO Tim Davie has received a whopping 15 percent pay increase. Nice work if you can get it.
“The jury is no longer outside. The license fee just isn’t fit for the 21st century.’
Dennis Reed, director of Silver Voices, the independent group for British seniors, told the news site that the tax is “regressive” and “hits the poorest hardest”.
It also comes after the company warned of serious consequences from a two-year license freeze, as well as from job cuts and cuts in services.
But Davie said the BBC was driven by “extreme hyperinflation and competition”. He added that the ‘return’ the BBC got in terms of audience value was ‘very strong’ and that the audience wanted to see the ‘best people’ presenting for the company. He said appropriate wage restraint was “critical and important.”
The BBC also warned that the number of high-paid stars will increase in the coming years.
And it expects to see more stars earning more than £150,000 in the coming years as a result of “competitive talent markets.”
The annual report for 2021/22 also revealed that the BBC’s gender pay gap widened for the first time since it began recording figures in 2017. The company’s report shows the median gap widened from 5.2 percent to 5.9 percent.
While the broadcaster claimed the total bill for on-air talent had fallen slightly to £129.8 million, including the lower-paid on-air staff, it was different for many elite performers.
Director-General Tim Davie claimed the BBC showed ‘incredible restraint’ in the ‘talent’ wage market
The report found that 11 of the top 20 had increased their salaries. 36 top names are believed to have received a raise, including newcomers to the ‘talent’ payroll, which reportedly represents in the region of £1million for this group.
Gary Lineker, 61, remained the highest paid and is the only one to make over a million, making up to £1,354,999 last year – £10,000 less than the previous year, for his work on Match of the Day and Sports Personality of the Year .
Zoe Ball remains the second highest paid star, earning up to £984,999. But her salary has fallen from the previous year and is now below £1million.
Radio 2 presenter Steve Wright, whose afternoon program has been canceled, was tied for third with more than £450,000 – down from £15,000.
Other names have seen earnings soar, with Today presenter Amol Rajan boosting his earnings by around £80,000 to a maximum of £329,999 a year.
BBC Breakfast and Radio 5 Live presenter Miss Munchetty got £110,000 more than the year before, with up to £369,999 a year.
Radio 1 presenter Greg James saw his salary rise by around £80,000 to £394,999. Football pundit Alan Shearer was awarded an extra £60,000 last year to a whopping £454,999, putting him in joint third place.
Last night, John O’Connell, of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said: “These pay packages are coming out of the pockets of retired and struggling taxpayers, who are fed up with the license fee. Auntie may be moving in the right direction, but it’s high time we abolished the TV tax and prevent taxpayers’ money from going to these media millionaires.’
The BBC claimed that the pay increases for top stars were due to many taking on more work. It only publishes details of talent who have paid more than £150,000. The BBC said the total public service workforce fell from 18,190 to 17,781.
Total wage bills were £1.05 billion, down from £1.09 billion.
The company said last night: “Total pay for top talent is down 1.5%, headcount is down more than 400 on top of a 1,200 drop last year, and senior leaders are down 3 percent.
“At the same time, we have increased the amount we have spent on programs and services after the lockdown and as such, some people have done more work for the BBC.”