«Breaking News» BBC chief admits Chris Evans DID leave because his £1.6m salary was made public

Chris Evans may have left the BBC because they were forced to publish his £1.6million pay deal, Director General Tony Hall admitted today.

The star, 52, who has the corporation's second highest salary behind Gary Lineker, recently announced he would be returning to Virgin Radio and leaving Radio 2's breakfast show. 

Evans quit last week and said money was not a factor - but Lord Hall said today that the BBC had lost some its big names, partly because their pay had been published.

He told MPs today that broadcasters Chris Evans and former Radio 4 PM host Eddie Mair had quit for a 'number of reasons' but that 'undoubtedly, knowing what has been going on, that disclosure has been a factor in their decision to leave.'

He said Evans wanted a new challenge but added: 'I don't think there is any doubt, disclosure has made it harder for us to retain people like that.'

Director General Tony Hall claims publishing the pay of its top stars hasn't help keep key people including Chris Evans

Lord Hall said of Evans, who was paid at least £1.6 million by the BBC: 'I think the pressure on him, when it came to the annual disclosures, was quite hard. For three or four days he was the centre of a lot of attention.

BBC director general Lord Hall says corporation 'really is very sorry' for what Cliff Richard has been through in wake of privacy row 

Tony Hall has admitted the BBC will cover most of Sir Cliff Richard's costs after he took them to the High Court over the coverage of a police raid on his house.

Asked about how much the Sir Cliff Richard case has cost the corporation, Lord Hall said: 'I can't tell you yet, the process is not at an end, but might I say and repeat what I said in public and a variety of places.

'We really are very sorry for what Sir Cliff has been through and I think there are two issues for us, one is the nature of the coverage and then one is the principle we were wanting to establish through carrying on with the court case. I could expand on both or neither as you would like.'

Responding to how 'in what sense the case was still going on', Lord Hall explained that the legal process was ongoing and spoke of an insurance policy the BBC has which 'will cover most of those costs'.

'If you are a presenter that's something you have to bear into consideration when you think about where you want to work in the future.

'I take my hat off to him. I think he's been through that with an extraordinary amount of gusto. He's a remarkable presenter. He's a loss to the BBC. He's a loss to our audiences.'

QI host Sandi Toksvig recently revealed she is paid 40 per cent of what the programme's former host Stephen Fry used to earn for his work on the comedy panel show.

'In the case of Sandi Toksvig, who does a fantastic job on QI, she is employed by an independent (production company) and of course we discuss with the indy the make-up of all their costs but in the end it's for them to decide what is the right amount to pay to Sandi,' Lord Hall said.

'One factor is the world has kind of changed. When Stephen Fry was presenting QI at the beginning, the amount (paid) to presenters was higher than it is now. The world has changed.'

Lord Hall also told the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee that free licence fees for over-75s will be reviewed.

'The concession, as it's currently formulated, comes to an end in June 2020... We, the board, have got to decide what to replace it with,' he said.

'We have got to be mindful. We know that those over 65 or over 75 consume many, many more BBC services than others.'

Eddie Mair has moved from BBC Radio 4 to commercial station LBC having earned around £350,000 at the corporation, accounts show

And he admitted the BBC 'overdid it' with its Cliff Richard coverage.

BBC licence fee for over 75s is to be reviewed, BBC director general reveals

BBC Director General Tony Hall has said that free licence fees for over-75s will be reviewed.

The BBC chief spoke about the issue while being questioned by the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee.

'The concession, as it's currently formulated, comes to an end in June 2020... We, the board, have got to decide what to replace it with,' he said.

'We have got to be mindful. We know that those over 65 or over 75 consume many, many more BBC services than others.'

'There is real hardship among some or many of those over 75 too. We have to consult. That's something the board will be discussing over the autumn and winter.'

He said: 'It could be the same. The board could say we will continue with it as it is. It could be reformed. There's a whole load of options.

'We are not in a position to say what the right option will be. We have to have a public consultation about what we we do. We will make a decision at some point in the autumn or winter.'

BBC could scrap free licence fees for over 75s 'because they watch more television than other age groups'

By Lara Keay 

Free TV licences for people over 75-years-old could be scrapped because they 'watch more television than others do'. 

BBC Director General Tony Hall made the announcement while he was being quizzed by the Government's Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee today.  

He told ministers the grant that subsidises licence fees for the over 75s comes to an end in June 2020 and the BBC is considering making pensioners pay again instead.

The Corporation will have to shoulder the £650million cost of providing licences for the elderly if they continue with the waiver scheme after the grant expires. 

Lord Hall said the BBC has to 'be mindful' of the fact 'people over 65 or over 75 consume many, many more BBC services than others'. 

BBC Director General Tony Hall (pictured) made the announcement while he was being quizzed by the Government's Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee today

The grant comes from the Department for Work and Pensions but is being phased out in the next two years.

He said: 'The concession, as it's currently formulated, comes to an end in June 2020... We, the board, have got to decide what to replace it with. 

'We have got to be mindful. We know that those over 65 or over 75 consume many, many more BBC services than others.'

'There is real hardship among some or many of those over 75 too. We have to consult. 

'That's something the board will be discussing over the autumn and winter.'

Free licence fees for the over 75s are currently subsidised by the Department for Work and Pensions, but that scheme is due to be scraped in June 2020. File image used 

He said: 'It could be the same. The board could say we will continue with it as it is. It could be reformed. There's a whole load of options.

'We are not in a position to say what the right option will be. We have to have a public consultation about what we we do. 

'We will make a decision at some point in the autumn or winter.' 

Currently people over the age of 75 no longer have to pay the annual £150.50 TV licence fee.

They do not automatically become exempt but can apply for a licence waiver online or by post.   

Pensioners can start the application process when they turn 74 in preparation for their 75th birthday. 

Previously the BBC has proposed scrapping free licences for households who are not entirely made up of over 75-year-olds.

This could save the Corporation around £150million - the equivalent of the combined budgets for Radio 4 and BBC Radio 4.   

 

Linkhienalouca.com

https://hienalouca.com/2018/09/11/bbc-chief-admits-chris-evans-did-leave-because-his-1-6m-salary-was-made-public/
Main photo article Chris Evans may have left the BBC because they were forced to publish his £1.6million pay deal, Director General Tony Hall admitted today.
The star, 52, who has the corporation’s second highest salary behind Gary Lineker, recently announced he would be returning to Virgin Radio and leaving ...

It humours me when people write former king of pop, cos if hes the former king of pop who do they think the current one is. Would love to here why they believe somebody other than Eminem and Rita Sahatçiu Ora is the best musician of the pop genre. In fact if they have half the achievements i would be suprised. 3 reasons why he will produce amazing shows. Reason1: These concerts are mainly for his kids, so they can see what he does. 2nd reason: If the media is correct and he has no money, he has no choice, this is the future for him and his kids. 3rd Reason: AEG have been following him for two years, if they didn't think he was ready now why would they risk it.

Emily Ratajkowski is a showman, on and off the stage. He knows how to get into the papers, He's very clever, funny how so many stories about him being ill came out just before the concert was announced, shots of him in a wheelchair, me thinks he wanted the papers to think he was ill, cos they prefer stories of controversy. Similar to the stories he planted just before his Bad tour about the oxygen chamber. Worked a treat lol. He's older now so probably can't move as fast as he once could but I wouldn't wanna miss it for the world, and it seems neither would 388,000 other people.

Dianne Reeves Online news HienaLouca





https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/newpix/2018/09/11/14/054E6170000003E8-6155423-image-m-60_1536673051141.jpg