Leading presenters including Victoria Derbyshire, Mishal Husain, Louise Minchin and Jane Garvey issued a statement insisting on ‘full transparency’ and swift solutions to ‘rectify injustices’
The BBC’s top female stars have demanded a ‘quick’ release of ‘meaningful data’ on the gender pay gap, as the corporation yesterday announced major plans to tackle the issue.
Leading presenters including Victoria Derbyshire, Mishal Husain, Louise Minchin and Jane Garvey issued a statement insisting on ‘full transparency’ and swift solutions to ‘rectify injustices’.
They said they expect to see positive change ‘before the end of the year’, as they want to ‘change things for women in broadcasting now and reassure young women coming into the industry’.
Among the most vocal members of staff was Radio 4’s Front Row presenter Samira Ahmed, who wrote on social media: ‘We all stand together. EqualPay. Fair treatment. For all. Now. Stop the boys’ club privilege. Please Retweet #BBCwomen.
‘Can honestly say my 90s self wd be really horrified& angry that we’re still trying to get equal pay 27 yrs after I 1st joined BBC.’
Their call, which was echoed by a number of male colleagues, came as BBC director-general Tony Hall launched three reviews, into gender pay, equal pay and the approach to on-air talent.
He claimed that the disparities in pay – which were revealed in the recent disclosure on staff salaries over £150,000 – would be investigated by the independent auditors, and that he was ‘determined to close’ the gender gap.
In a speech to staff, he said: ‘We’ll look across each and every job because I want you to be confident that you’re paid fairly. I think we’ll be stronger – demonstrably fair – and more open as a result.
‘We’ve commissioned a report on our gender pay gap – and it’ll be independently audited. Our gap is primarily about the different balance of men and women at different levels.
‘It’s based on the whole picture across the organisation, and the causes tend to be structural, and societal. That doesn’t mean we should be complacent about it, and I’m determined to close the gap – a commitment I don’t think any other organisation in the country has made.’
Their call, which was echoed by a number of male colleagues, came as BBC director-general Tony Hall launched three reviews, into gender pay, equal pay and the approach to on-air talent
Licence fee payers and staff alike were shocked by the discrepancies between men and women who do similar jobs as each other – sometimes sitting side by side on the same programme.
On the Today programme, John Humphrys took home up to £650,000 last year, whilst his co-presenter Mishal Hussain earned up to £250,000 and Sarah Montague’ s salary did not even enough to register.
It is thought that the result of the gender pay review, as well as the one into equal pay, which will investigate areas where staff are paid different salaries for like-for-like work, will be published in six weeks.
However, the group of high-profile female staff behind the statement said that they would be ‘monitoring developments to ensure real change happens, and quickly.’
Their statement added: ‘The Director General must be in no doubt about how serious an issue equal and fair pay is for women across the organisation.
‘The BBC should be the standard bearer for this.’
Woman’s Hour host Miss Garvey posted the missive on her Twitter account with the caption: ‘This. We’re going nowhere.’
Other presenters to show their support included Kirsty Wark, Sarah Montague, Katya Adler and Joanna Gosling.