BBC stars face 40% pay cuts

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...n-slashed.html


Gives you an insight into what some of the presenters are earning. From this it appears that Mr Wogan is best value for money as he is still pulling in the best ratings.

I haven't read the whole article but I concur, Terry Wogan is the only person I'd be happy to see receive 800k.

Bruce Forsyth was last night considering his future as host of Strictly Come Dancing after the BBC told him: “We are slashing your pay.”

Brucie was at a gathering of top stars including Terry Wogan and Jeremy Clarkson where all were given the news on a “night of the long knives” for salaries.

With more than 100 assembled, BBC director-general Mark Thompson made a speech saying the Corporation would be making salary cuts of up to 50 per cent to help cope with the credit crunch.

A source at the meeting said: “Some of the guests thought it was a get-together over champagne and canapés but it left many feeling they had been to a bloodbath.

“It was very downbeat. Basically anyone on screen earning over £100,000 is looking at a massive pay cut – five per cent minimum with some deals being halved.”

The first big name facing up to the cuts is Forsyth, who is just about to start formal negotiations on his Strictly Come Dancing contract for later this year.

The source said: “Mark Thompson made a long speech about the difficult situation the BBC was in and read out a lot of figures that not everyone in the audience kept up with. He was trying to justify and explain why people are going to face really tough negotiations.

“It was a grim speech and many people in the room were shocked at how far the cuts will go.”

The BBC last night confirmed the gathering of stars took place on the sixth floor of BBC Television centre in West London. They also issued a statement defending their decision to slash wages.

The BBC said: “No organisation is immune from the economic climate and we have to find substantial savings.

“Talent fees are not excluded from the economic pressures faced across the organisation. These will be reflected in negotiations.

“This was an internal event as part of our dialogue with artists and presenters who work for us.”

Other stars at the event included comedians Lenny Henry and Jo Brand, presenter Mariella Frostrup, and rugby host John Inverdale.

TV legend Forsyth has to decide if he wants to continue presenting Strictly Come Dancing at the age of 81 at a massively reduced rate.

He earned a reported £900,000 last year but that could be slashed to £500,000. A source said: “Bruce was at the meeting so he heard what was said.

“Money is tighter than it was a year or two ago and his Strictly contract is a rolling one.

“Discussions are imminent. In any business deal, you decide whether it is worth doing or not. You look at the market and you make your decision accordingly and that is what he will do when he makes his decision.”

It is thought Brucie hopes to negotiate a new deal to sign as he still loves doing the show.

Radio 1 DJ Chris Moyles will also face tough negotiations after his £630,000 breakfast slot deal runs out next month.

He has admitted he is keen to sign another contract so he will have to face up to earning less than £500,000.

One agent who asked not to be named said last night: “The director-general and the channel bosses should be leading by example and taking cuts themselves, not taking it out on presenters across the board.

“There are lots of good presenters earning around £100,000 who do not deserve to be treated like this. They have mortgages and bills to pay like everyone else.”

High earners Jonathan Ross and Graham Norton missed Monday’s meeting, as did Moyles.

Last week the Mirror revealed how Ross was facing up to his £6million-a-year deal being halved when the contract runs out at the end of the year.

Graham Norton, on a £5million three-year contract, told the Mirror

in May: “I would take a pay cut to stay at the BBC. No one is immune from the credit crunch. I am very fortunate in that I am well paid to do jobs that I love.”

WHO'S IN LINE TO LOSE OUT

Terry Wogan

Currently earns: £800,000.

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Potential new salary: Bosses will try to negotiate a new deal around £500,000-a-year.

Jonathan Ross

Currently earns: £18million deal over three years.

Potential new salary: Will be offered £3million-a-yr deal for 2010.

Graham Norton

Currently earns: Two year deal worth £5million.

Potential new salary: Admits he’ll take cut, but will still get £2million.

Chris Moyles

Currently earns: £630,000.

Potential new salary: £450,000. Not as big a cut as others as he pulls in record listeners.

Jeremy Paxman

Currently earns: £1million.

Potential new salary: Despite being top interviewer will be cut to £650,000.

Jo Whiley

Currently earns: £250,000.

Potential new salary: Bosses will offer her £150,000 to stay on Radio 1.

Jeremy Clarkson

Currently earns: £2million.

Potential new salary: Bosses will put brakes on his salary, reducing it to nearer £1million.

Chris Evans

Currently earns: £540,000.

Potential new salary: Ginger DJ will be looking at nearer £350,000 for next contract.

Sara Cox

Currently earns: £200,000.

Potential new salary: No longer as big as Radio 1 Breakfast days, will get about £125,000.

Kate Silverton

Currently earns: £250,000.

Potential new salary: Will earn less than £200,000 unless she increases workload.

900k for a couple of hours work each Saturday night for three months? That's obscene and very undeserved.

Presenting tv or radio is hardly a difficult or dangerous job. No way should anyone earn that amount for so little work.

Bruce has had his day, he should retire and count his millions rather than keep his hand open for more. Let some fresh blood come through.

some of these presenters are earning loads and should be grateful they are only getting a pay cut and not being axed completely. even with the pay cuts they are earning far far more than ordinary people, they should think themselves lucky!

Paul O'Grady has lashed out at BBC executives for hitting talent with big pay cuts - but keeping their own six-figure salaries.

The former BBC star, who works at Channel 4, said he could not understand why only star presenters such as Jonathan Ross and Chris Moyles were being hit in the pocket.

O'Grady, 54, said: "That is grossly unfair. Why expect the people who bring in the viewers to your networks to take a big cut and not you? Insane. Wrong. If I worked for the BBC I would not be amused."

BBC director-general Mark Thompson earned £816,000 last year, despite waiving his bonuses.

ITV has axed 15 out of 60 staff who make sports shows. A worker said: "It seems an odd decision. They are covering the World Cup next year and won't have enough staff for some events.

The Mirror


He has got a point

ITV boss Peter Fincham yesterday slammed the BBC for slashing its top stars' salaries by up to 25 per cent.
He said the big names were treated "like children who've run amok in a sweet shop" and he was not interested in "gestures for gestures' sake".

The former BBC1 controller, due to cut new deals with ITV faces including Ant and Dec, said he did not see his top talent as "pawns in a chess game".

He added Britain's Got Talent delivered the biggest single audience since 2001, insisting: "You have to treat that with respect."

That makes absolutely no sense to me :confused:

It's all very well for the boss of a private channel to slate the BBC for slashing salaries but I'm sure he'd be doing the same if he was still in control of BBC1, which is paid for by the public.

As for BGT, its one of the few quality shows ITV produce. The BBC have always beaten ITV in their Saturday night reality shows, most of which ITV copied the formats.

i agree that the bosses should also be taking pay cuts as they earn stupid amounts as well but the presenters should have pay cuts too

and i agree with abigail, bbc produce a lot better programmes than itv do