02 JULY 2019

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Today as part of annual reporting, the BBC published its latest list of its stars’ salaries. While for the first time three women, Claudia Winkleman, Zoe Ball and Vanessa Feltz are among the BBC’s top ten highest earners, still only five of the BBC’s twenty highest paid personalities are women.

The BBC has come under heavy criticism for its gender pay gap, which is currently being investigated by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), who are due to report on their findings at the end of 2019.

The Fawcett Society Chief Executive Sam Smethers commented:

 “While the position of women has improved in the highest earners still only five of the top twenty are women and BME stars are still under-represented.

"They should value their male and female talent equally. Can we be confident that they are doing that? We need to see the outcome of the EHRC investigation into unequal pay at the BBC. Any pay discrimination must be addressed as a matter of urgency."

“The BBC also need to ensure that women at every level of the organisation are being paid equally with men for doing work of equal value.”

Last year, journalist Carrie Gracie resigned from her role as BBC China Editor after discovering she was being paid less than her male North America counterpart. She donated the backpay that she won from her case to The Fawcett Society, which used the funds to launch an Equal Pay Advice Service.

The Service is run in partnership with YESS Law, and aims to provide free legal advice for women on low incomes. Access the service here.

We have also set up an Equal Pay Fund, with donations going towards the service. Show your solidarity with women who are facing pay discrimination and unable to access the legal help they need. Support the Equal Pay Fund now.