Now it’s the £1m WINKLEMAN! Strictly’s Claudia is the latest BBC star ‘on seven figure sum’ after replacing Graham Norton in prestigious Radio 2 weekend slot
Strictly Come Dancing co-presenter Claudia Winkleman is believed to have become the BBC’s new £1 million female star.
After being chosen to replace Graham Norton as host of Radio 2’s Saturday morning show, the 48-year-old is understood to have been given a pay rise set to take her total earnings from the BBC into seven figures.
Salary lists made public by the BBC show Ms Winkleman earned between £370,000 and £379,000 for presenting a two-hour Sunday evening show on Radio 2. Sources believe this will go up by at least £100,000 given her new show on the station is three hours long and in a more high-profile slot.
Strictly Come Dancing co-presenter Claudia Winkleman is believed to have become the BBC’s new £1 million female star.
Mr Norton received between £720,000 and £729,000 for presenting the Saturday show. According to reports, Ms Winkleman earns £350,000 for her co-presenting role on Strictly with Tess Daly and a further £150,000 for fronting Best Home Cook, the baking show launched after The Great British Bake Off moved to Channel 4.
The Strictly and Best Home Cook salaries are paid through BBC Studios, a commercial arm of the Corporation, and are not included in the BBC’s published annual list of its top earners. Ms Winkleman will also be paid separately for one-off TV and radio appearances for the broadcaster.
Last night a BBC source said: ‘Claudia is loved by her viewers and listeners and works extremely hard. She also has various jobs that earn her this amount.’
After being chosen to replace Graham Norton, pictured, as host of Radio 2’s Saturday morning show, the Claudia Winkleman is understood to have been given a pay rise set to take her total earnings from the BBC into seven figures
The most recent BBC top earners report, published in September, showed Match Of The Day host Gary Lineker was the highest paid on £1.75 million, although under the terms of his new contract that will fall by £400,000 next year. In second place was Radio 2 Breakfast Show presenter Zoe Ball, one of four women in the top ten. The BBC has been under pressure over its gender pay gap.
Three years ago, each of the top seven earners were men, prompting stars including Clare Balding and Emily Maitlis to write an open letter demanding action to then Director General Lord Hall.
Last night the BBC declined to discuss Ms Winkleman’s salary or whether she would be paid the same as Mr Norton for presenting the Radio 2 show on Saturday mornings. Ms Winkleman also declined to comment.
MAISIE BANISHES BLUES WITH HER QUICKSTEP
Eastenders star Maisie Smith may be struggling by being separated from her family during her stint on Strictly but she was all smiles last night after wowing the judges with her quickstep.
The 19-year-old was awarded two tens from the judges to leave her second on the leaderboard.
Shirley Ballas and Motsi Mabuse, who returned to the panel after two weeks off, gave her top marks for her dance to When You’re Smiling by Andy Williams.
Maisie – Tiffany Butcher in the TV soap – is missing the comfort of seeing her parents in the audience but banished the blues with a polished performance.
Singer HRVY topped the leaderboard, scoring three tens for his routine, while former Marine JJ Chalmers wore a specially made kilt for his Viennese waltz.
Eastenders star Maisie Smith was all smiles last night after wowing the judges with her quickstep
Singer HRVY topped the leaderboard, scoring three tens for his routine, while former Marine JJ Chalmers (pictured) wore a specially made kilt for his Viennese waltz.