BBC transparency

Sorry Lewlew I hadn't realised that you mentioned EM in the first place. I still thought he was cringeworthy though.

I thought Ed Milliband sitting in for Jeremy Vine was cringe worthy Ana Nothing to do with his politics either. He just sounded so out of place and awkward.

gillybob yes, we do have the right to question these salaries, as you say we pay the license fee. I don't believe any so called celebrity deserves such a large salary.

Lewlew were Miliband & Co. such good substitutes for Jeremy Vine because they copied his style of presenting perfectly?

Doesn't say much for their own presenting skills!

(may it sink like the Titanic!)

Or like one of my cakes devongirl

I'd just like to remind folks about the sad demise (from the BBC) of Bakeoff, where they refused to meet the cost demanded by the production company which was then stumped up by C4 (may it sink like the Titanic!) IMO that was the right decision by BBC.

Oh, and I was driving for a good few hours when Jeremy Vine was on holiday and Ed Milleband filled in. Only because I needed R2 for the traffic report thingy (Classic FM does not). He was really lively. I enjoyed it. Several people filled in for Vine and I don't understand what is so special about his style of presenting. The others copied it perfectly.

Some are so over-paid for what they do. People get bored with the same-old same-old. Does anyone really miss Jeremy Clarkson? Tim Wonnacott on BH? I think Wonnacott still works in another show. I prefer BH with the rotating presenters myself. Clarkson? Ewwww. Saw him here doing a piece for a local landmark. It was easy to be on the sideline. He just ranted and yelled at everyone. Then when the camera came on, all smiles and bon-homie.

How much does a news-reader really affect our perception of the news? Is the news more credible because Fiona Bruce presents it vs Jane Hill or Sophie Raworth?

When someone pretending to be a nurse can earn more in a year than a real nurse earns in a lifetime something is seriously wrong.

No one deserves to earn that type of grotesque sum from what is essentially an enforced, public whip round, supposedly to 'inform, educate and entertain'........some of the programs are dire and the presenters ego filled monsters. We could certainly have fewer repeats if we paid 'celebs' less, a lot less and the BBC could then make more money and develop talent or put something back into the state coffers.

Allegedly they could all beetle off and earn more elsewhere, great news, fresh faces are needed, new concepts, pension off those saggy old blokes in grey suits with mono tone voices, let's have more diversity and energy.

MaizieD get off your high horse I'm not slagging the BBC they produce some good programmes I'm objecting to the mega bucks some of the so called talent get. I have to pay for my TV Licence do you or do you get a free one because of your age I also pay for Netflix and Sky but thats my choice, I object to being forced to pay for something I do not want.

Stephan Nolan is paid a lot,but I find him one of the best presenters....He's one of the few I actively listen to. He never fails to show the utmost curtesy to people who phone in with sometimes the oddest views on "Up all night" on 5Live. Well worth catching him,even if it means you lose some sleep!

Maizie it is an intolerable position for those who don't watch the BBC. Also as you say yourself what does it matter what celebs are paid on other channels when the channels earn the money they pay them. There is a massive difference. It is a tv tax and nothing less for a company that churns out utter rubbish most of the time.

so i'm forced to pay for these overpaid luvvies even though i never watch the BBC. Not ever. Don't listen to the radio either. Lovely. I'm sure if the other channels can manage to earn themselves a living the BBC should be forced to start doing it as well.

I was appalled to note that women presenters or 'stars' however they're termed, seem to earn around half as much as their male counterparts.

But surely we don't have the whole picture as some people are apparently paid via production companies and their earnings don't come into this scenario.

So I don't see what use this information is if it gives only half the story.

For instance, Chris Evans's £2m might be his whole salary whilst for others, either they may not be cited at all or what is cited is only a portion of what they earn.

We just don't know.

I feel the likes of Chris Evans is paid far too much for what he does,which isn't a lot. The differences in the pay of all of them is so marked I'm not surprised that there is some discontent.

All makes me rather uncomfortable. Some a ridiculous amount. What worries me about the Beeb these days is the bias. The news is no longer the news but opinion

I think all this has to be viewed through the prism of the Murdoch purchase of Sky.

While celebrity culture 'rules' they will be paid extortionate amounts of money.... On BBC news at 6 last night they announced we would be working until we are 68 til we get a state pension then straight after the so called news about celebrities wages so insensitive so no wonder the BBC never get it right.
Love Charley in Casualty say no more....

Maizie it is being reported that the commercial stations being answerable to shareholders are paying their top "talent" less than the BBC

Please find out what the commercial stations' 'talent' is being paid before you start slagging off the BBC.

Of course, I can see what your (the slaggers off) problem is. You think that the commercial stations are free so all TV should be free. Paying under 3 quid a week for the BBC is an intolerable imposition..

You do have to buy a TV licence if you watch live tv even if you choose not to watch the BBC. I expect I am not alone in resenting the so called talent getting paid mega bucks irrespective of whether they are men or women and the men are getting paid more.

How can the public choose every presenter to appear in TV? Talent ? What is talent to some is rubbish to others,

You're wrong ninny it's much more complicated than that

I resent every penny spent on the so called talent, why not give up and coming presenters and new talent a chance at a fraction of the cost. The licence paying public should have a say how and on who our licence money is being spent.

You do have to buy a TV licence even if you don't want to watch BBC, or you face prosecution.