BBC boss Charlotte Moore defends presenters’ huge salaries

By James Hibbs

Published: Tuesday, 22 March 2022 at 12:00 am

The BBC’s Chief Content Officer Charlotte Moore has defended the large salaries of some of the corporation’s’ presenters, which have come under increased scrutiny in recent years.

Since 2017, the broadcaster has published the names of TV and radio presenters and journalists who receive salaries of £150,000 and over.

It was revealed last year, for instance, that Gary Lineker earns £1.3 million a year from the BBC – three times as much as Moore earns herself. Other big earners include Zoe Ball, Steve Wright and Huw Edwards.

In an interview with Radio Times Magazine, Moore said: “Look, I think we know that viewers really value the presenters that we have on some of our bigger shows. And the audience that loves Match of the Day has huge love for Gary Lineker.

“It’s about value to the audience in the end, and whether we think that it’s the right person for the job, with the right level of experience, with the right ability to present in a way that is really accessible, enjoyable and entertaining.”

Asked if any BBC presenters are “indispensable”, Moore said: “I don’t think any of us in this world is indispensable. There are always new people out there.”

Asked specifically about Graham Norton, who left his Radio 2 show in 2020 but whose BBC One Friday night chat show remains hugely popular, Moore commented: “I think Graham Norton is absolutely genius at what he does.

“But when a show comes to the end of its life, you find somebody new. When a presenter wants to move on, you think about how you evolve the show.”