The BBC has confirmed that several of its highest-paid male presenters have agreed to take salary reductions following the controversy over gender pay inequality at the corporation. John Humphrys, Jeremy Vine, Huw Edwards, Nicky Campbell, Nick Robinson and Jon Sopel are among those who have accepted lower pay.
John Humphrys, who presented BBC Radio 4's Today programme and Mastermind, saw his salary drop from between £600,000 and £649,999 to approximately £250,000-£300,000. He stated it was his decision, adding: 'I'm not exactly on the breadline.' Humphrys noted that the BBC's financial situation had changed, and the salary disclosures reinforced the need for reductions.
The BBC initially published an online story naming the presenters who agreed to cuts, but later removed their names before reinstating them with caveats. The changes reportedly followed concerns raised at a morning news meeting. A BBC spokesperson expressed gratitude to the presenters, calling them 'great journalists and presenters' and noting that final details of some changes are still being discussed.
Jeremy Vine, who earned £700,000-£749,999, said he had no difficulty accepting the cut, supporting equal pay for equal work. Nicky Campbell confirmed his reduction on air, describing the process as 'civilised and collegiate.' The pay disclosures last year revealed that two-thirds of the BBC's best-paid on-air talent were men, sparking widespread criticism and the resignation of China editor Carrie Gracie.
