BBC pays performers £229 million in 12 months prior to March last year
Ross has announced he will be leaving the BBC in July
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Tuesday, 09, Feb 2010 05:03
By Richard James.
The BBC paid a total of £229 million to its presenters, actors and other talent in the year up till March 2009, the broadcaster has revealed.
The figure represents 6.56 per cent of the licence fee, with £70 million going towards the corporation's top earners.
Individual salaries have not been released, despite considerable pressure to do so. The BBC has come in for severe criticism in recent years for the payment received by top talent, in particular Jonathan Ross's multi-million pound pay packet.
The broadcaster's commercial rivals have continually accused it of overpaying talent and causing a "superinflation" of wages.
The BBC published details of the salaries and expenses information for its top management last year in an attempt to implement greater transparency and appease critics of its spending.
Commenting on the fees paid to talent, Caroline Thomson, the BBC's chief operating officer, said: "Artists, presenters, musicians and other contributors are central to the BBC's ability to deliver high quality and distinctive programming and we know that audiences expect to see and hear them on BBC programmes.
"The BBC engages some of the greatest performers in the world across television and radio, and also nurtures and develops people that will be at the heart of our programmes in the future. They add to the credibility, expertise and creativity of the BBC."
Last month Ross announced he would be leaving the BBC in July when his current £16.9 million contract expires.