Some of the BBC’s leading male presenters have agreed to take a pay cut after revelations over equal pay.
Nicky Campbell is among several people who have all agreed, either formally or in principle, to reduce their salaries.
Jeremy Vine, John Humphrys and Huw Edwards have also agreed to pay cuts, either formally or in principle, BBC media editor Amol Rajan said.
And the corporation is believed to be in discussions with North America editor Jon Sopel.
It follows Carrie Gracie’s resignation from her post as BBC China editor in protest at unequal pay between male and female international editors.
An independent audit into equal pay at the BBC will be published next week.
The corporation said: “We’ve already set out a range of action we’re taking on fair pay, and we’ll have more to say on the issue next week.”
Campbell confirmed he was taking a pay cut while on air, just after the news story about male presenters was read out on BBC 5 live’s Breakfast show.
He added: “And I am also on that list.”
Last summer, Campbell was listed as earning between £400,000-£449,999.
The BBC revealed the pay of on-air talent earning over £150,000 in July, with two-thirds of stars earning more than that being men.
Chris Evans topped the list, earning between £2.2m and £2.25m in 2016/2017.
The highest-paid female, Claudia Winkleman, earned significantly less – between £450,000 and £500,000.
Gracie is now returning to the BBC newsroom in London, saying she expects to be “paid equally”.
The BBC’s media editor, Amol Rajan, said whilst competition in the entertainment industry has intensified, the opposite has happened in news.
“Many of those now taking pay cuts secured generous deals years ago,” he said.
BBC
