THE BBC has been paying Radio 4 host James Naughtie £175,000 a year for just 23 hours of broadcast time. His salary was released last week alongside the Beeb’s other top earners. It covers April 2019-20 but, unlike many other presenters, there was no breakdown of how much work he did. Now, a Sun on […]
THE BBC has been paying Radio 4 host James Naughtie £175,000 a year for just 23 hours of broadcast time.
His salary was released last week alongside the Beeb’s other top earners.
It covers April 2019-20 but, unlike many other presenters, there was no breakdown of how much work he did.
Now, a Sun on Sunday audit can reveal the 69-year-old was on air for just over 23 hours in that time — equal to £7,608 an hour of broadcasting, or £126 a minute.
Naughtie presented two documentaries, an opera performance, interviews and a night of election coverage. He also hosted 12 episodes of a book club series where he interviewed authors.
The BBC came under fire last week as accounts showed staff pay was up 3.5 per cent to £1.5billion this year. Yet, a total of 450 staff working on its regional programmes in England are being made redundant as it looks to save £25million.
A source said: “It’s quite clear it’s been an old boy’s club at the top of the BBC. Naughtie has been a big name for years but I cannot see how the BBC can justify such an enormous salary for that amount of work.
“He’s well respected and brilliant at what he does but that’s a huge sum and a kick in the teeth for those losing jobs. It shows how out of touch the BBC is.”
In April, Naughtie also published a book, On the Road: Adventures from Nixon to Trump. On top of his BBC salary, he owns a company, Pagoda Words Limited, which has reserves of £90,000.
Radio 2 presenter Zoe Ball, on £1.36million, will become the BBC’s top earner after a £1million rise, despite losing nearly a million listeners.
Match of the Day host Gary Lineker will get £1.35million after a cut from £1.75million.
Naughtie’s huge pay dwarfs the Prime Minister’s £150,402- a-year salary and up to £114,000 for a brain surgeon.
Tory MP Andrew Bridgen said: “This expenditure would be indefensible at the best of times but certainly not when they are charging over-75s for a licence fee.
“I don’t know how BBC bosses can sleep at night.
“These huge salaries are paid for off the backs of pensioners, some of the most vulnerable in society.
“The fact this presenter earns such a lot for so little work is a scandal.”
The BBC defended his bumper salary. A spokesman said: “Jim is one of the most recognisable voices on radio but listing his on-air hours does not represent any of the behind-the-scenes work.
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