The BBC has been accused of hiding the real salaries of it’s biggest stars following the publication of the annual ‘rich list’ last month.
This year’s rundown revealed some of the broadcasters biggest earners, with the names of those raking in more than £150,000 a year or more directly from the licence fee exposed.
However, those stars who are paid by BBC Studios, the commercial wing behind shows such as Strictly Come Dancing, Top Gear and the Antiques Roadshow, do not have that part of their income included on the list, reports the Mail.
An unnamed BBC star has spoken out and claimed that true salaries of the channel’s stars are much higher than previously revealed.
The source alleged to the Mail that newsreader and host of Question Time and Antiques Roadshow Fiona Bruce earns ‘in excess of £1million a year’ but was ranked in sixth place on the ‘rich list’ earning between £450,000 to £454,999 last year.”
“The whole thing is a fiasco. There is zero transparency here, claimed the source. “It’s a very misleading list and the BBC has failed for years to come up with a more honest system of reporting pay.’
The also claimed that there are ‘prominent people’ missing from the BBC list who are ‘very high earners.’
“It’s not a good look for an organisation which prides itself on openness and transparency,” they added.
A BBC Spokesperson responded to the allegations in a statement to the Mirror.
They said: “BBC Studios is a commercial organisation so like other commercial businesses – including other production companies – there are no obligations on them to disclose what they pay those they engage.”
When the high earners list was published in September, Match of the Day host Gary Lineker came out on top taking home £1.75million in earnings.
However, this figure is set to drop next year as Gary, 59, is to take a £400,000 pay cut.
A new five-year deal will reduce his pay to £1.35m with immediate effect.
BBC Radio 2 Breakfast host Zoe Ball came in second on the list having earned £1.36million.
Zoe, 49, earns an extra fee – likely to be around £500,000 – for hosting Strictly’s It Takes Two, which is not included in the figures.
The BBC’s Director-General Tim Davie defended the star’s pay, despite her shedding nearly a million listeners within a year.
He said: “Zoe is absolutely a broadcaster at the top of her game. She’s delivering over eight million listeners.