BBC reveals pay was factor in Chris Evans' exit

‘I don’t think there is any doubt, disclosure has made it harder for us to retain people like that,’ says BBC director general

The BBC’s publication of its top star’s salaries was a factor in the departure of Chris Evans and Eddie Mair, the BBC’s director general has said.

Evans announced last week that he would be leaving his breakfast slot at Radio 2 to return to Virgin Radio, while Mair stepped down from Radio 4’s PM in July to host a new LBC show.

“Of course, we will lose people and indeed have lost a couple of people for a large number of reasons,” Lord Hall told MPs at a parliamentary committee. “But, no doubt, disclosure, and the fact that people know their pay, has been a significant factor in some of those losses.”

Evans was revealed to be the BBC’s highest earner when the salaries of the corporation’s top stars were disclosed in 2017, earning up to £2.2m. That salary dropped to roughly £1.6m this year after Evans stepped down from hosting Top Gear.

Lord Hall said that Evans and Mair had quite a “number of reasons” for their departures, but that “undoubtedly, knowing what’s been going on, that disclosure has been a factor in their decision to leave”.

Hailing Evans as “an extraordinary figure”, the BBC chief said the radio presenter wanted a new challenge and “of course that’s why he is leaving”, but added: “I don’t think there is any doubt, disclosure has made it harder for us to retain people like that.”

"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. 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... And he’s a loss to the BBC. He’s a loss to our audiences.”

Lord Hall also addressed QI host Sandi Toksvig’s revelation that she earns 40 per cent of what former present Stephen Fry used to be paid.

“One factor is the world has kind of changed,” he said. “When Stephen Fry was presenting QI at the beginning, the amount [paid] to presenters was higher than it is now. The world has changed.”

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