BBC presenter Samira Ahmed is suing her bosses over ‘unequal’ salary in landmark pay row
TV and radio presenter Samira Ahmed is suing her BBC bosses over alleged unequal pay.
Samira, 51, is taking the Beeb to an employment tribunal — with the landmark case set for next week.
The broadcaster claims she was paid less than male colleagues for doing “equal value work”.
Samira presents BBC News show Newswatch — which often examines the corporation’s editorial policy — and Radio 4’s arts show Front Row.
An insider said: “This is deeply embarrassing for the Beeb as Samira is a highly respected journalist.
“If she’s found to have been underpaid it will be seen as scandalous. If she succeeds, this is expected to pave the way for many similar cases involving other female BBC employees.
“The overall feeling on this issue is that the BBC still hasn’t got its house in order.”
There has been an increase in equal pay cases since 2017 when the BBC was made to publish the pay of its top stars.
Men accounted for around two-thirds of stars earning more than £150,000.
Last year, Carrie Gracie, 57, quit as the BBC’s China editor in an equal pay dispute. She won an undisclosed payout and an apology.
Samira started as a BBC News trainee in 1990.
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