Claudia Winkleman backs revealing salaries of top BBC stars like Chris Evans and Gary Lineker
BBC bosses oppose the move but the Strictly presenter joins a growing chorus who would happily reveal their pay
CLAUDIA Winkleman has become the BBC’s first big name to call for the salaries of highly paid on screen stars to be made public.
The issue has become a political hot potato, opposed by Beeb bosses including BBC1 chief Charlotte Moore.
Top presenters including Gary Lineker, Chris Evans, and David Dimbleby are set to have their salaries revealed after a Government white paper said those on more than £450,000 should have their pay made public.
Graham Norton, Huw Edwards, Fiona Bruce, John Humphrys and Jeremy Vine are also believed to be in the top earner category.
But Strictly Come Dancing presenter Claudia says: “I’m all for it. I totally understand it. We’re working for the public, so why shouldn’t they know?
“It’s good to see some women on the list too.”
“We get paid an awful lot of money and it’s a marketplace. It’s bonkers.”
She adds: “I love working for the BBC. I know that commercial stations pay a whole lot more – double, three times, four times. But I totally understand why people would want to know.”
Claudia insists that she didn’t work for the BBC for money.
She says: “I love my job so much I’d probably do it for a packet of skips.
“I feel very passionate about the BBC. I absolutely love it, whether it’s Richard Attenborough, the Today Programme or Mr Tumble.
“It’s an honour to work there.”
Daily Politics presenter Andrew Neil also says he is happy for his salary, which is more than the PM’s £143,000, to be made public as long as it shows the number of programmes he makes.
Most stars are against the disclosure of their salaries, including X Factor host Dermot O’Leary, who told The Sun that their pay should be kept secret because they “don’t hold elected office”.
Moore also believes it is “not in the interest of licence fee payers” to reveal talent fees as she claims it could drive their pay up.